CN109792555A

CN109792555A - For storing the system and method for being rescheduled the media asset to transmit from separate sources

Info

Publication number: CN109792555A
Application number: CN201780060434.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·W·罗斯奎斯特
Original assignee: Le Wei Guide Co
Current assignee: Le Wei Guide Co
Priority date: 2016-08-17
Filing date: 2017-08-16
Publication date: 2019-05-21
Also published as: EP3501175A1; AU2017313769A1; WO2018035262A1; BR112019003057A2; CA3033361A1; US20180054639A1; US20210392387A1; KR20190039986A; MX2019001935A; JP2019525661A; US11134283B2

Abstract

For efficiently determining the system and method for being scheduled for being rescheduled to another content source from the media asset that a content source stores.Such as, by check the data grouping of media asset that the identification that receives together with media asset is currently being received content (such as, field in Event Information Table), the media guidance application executed on set-top box or other user equipment devices can determine that the media asset of scheduled storage is sent currently without from the content source of primitive scheduling in real time.In response to determining that media asset cannot be obtained from the content source of primitive scheduling, media guidance application may search for the grouping received from other content sources to determine content source that media asset has been rescheduled to and store the media asset from that content source.

Description

For store the system of media asset to be transmitted from separate sources of being rescheduled and Method

Background technique

In view of that can transmit the diversity and quantity of the content source of media to consumer by it, content supplier is frequent Promgramming is moved to different content sources to optimize the quantity for the spectators for watching its content.For example, content supplier may One program of scheduling is arranged on special cable channel (for example, NBCSN), but since the interest to program compares content supplier Expected more (for example, a large amount of social medias follow), therefore its content that can be watched in China in more spectators It transmits on source (for example, on NBC) and/or in different times.It just determines and adjusts before the scheduled beginning of program wherein In the case that degree changes (for example, program has been moved to different channel and/or time), content supplier can update then quilt The program data library of set-top box or other user equipmenies (for example, downloading from program data library) is given, to ensure to use It is apprised of available correct content in family.If user is scheduled will to store the program, the set-top box with registering capacity Information can be changed based on the scheduling received and automatically store program from correct source.But there is wherein specific program It is rescheduled in real time or " collision (bumped) " is to the second situation of different channel, this is adjusted at immediately (back-to-back) It is common in the competitive sports of degree.

In the case where wherein given program is collided different channel in real time (when program broadcasts or will start), Content supplier may have insufficient time to update program data library as described above.Particularly, conventional system exists Database, which is updated and updates, can generate sizable lag time when being downloaded to set-top box.The lag time leads to machine top Box can not store section target fragment or may entire program.In order to mitigate lag time, some systems are known using object and voice Not to determine that the scheduling variation of program has occurred in real time (for example, announcer's notice is since sport is matched based on the content of program Thing has become delay, thus the competitive sports of next scheduling start will be in different channels).But such some systems System is computation-intensive, is not also accurate always even across good calibration.In addition, these systems are dependent on broadcast The information provided on member/screen；If announcer does not refer to, they possibly can not determine the variation of schedule.

Summary of the invention

It thus provides for determine it is scheduled be rescheduled to from the media asset that a content source stores it is another The system and method for a content source.The system and method can be used for more efficiently determining media asset be rescheduled and The source that the media asset has been rescheduled to.For example, by checking the identification received together with media asset currently just In the content (for example, field in Event Information Table) of the data grouping of received media asset, in set-top box or other users The media guidance application executed on facilities can determine the media asset of scheduled storage currently without from original in real time The content source of scheduling transmits.In response to determining that media asset cannot be obtained from the content source of primitive scheduling, media guidance application can Content source and storage that the media asset has been rescheduled to are determined to search for the grouping received from other content sources Media asset from that content source.In some embodiments, media guidance is applied based in content source and primitive scheduling The similitude of Rong Yuan selectively select to first have to search for which content source (for example, if program is initially scheduled on ESPN, So ESPN2 can be in the content source searched for first).

In some respects, media guidance application, which is received, comes from multiple content sources for storing during the time interval of scheduling First content source the first media asset user request.For example, media guidance application can be via user input interface (example Such as, long-range) receive the option for storing specific football match " Michigan v.USC " from channel " ESPN " to the point of 4-6 in the afternoon User's selection.User can be used mobile device or for selecting any other method for the program to be stored from set top box remote Ground is by the series record option of all football matches for specific team (for example, referring in grid in program listing screen In south) it selects to store the option of football match.

Then, media guidance is applied first media money of the storage from first content source during the time interval of scheduling The user of production requests the entry being stored as in data structure, and wherein the entry includes indicating the first field of current.Example Such as, media guidance application can safeguard that user has requested that when the media asset of storage and the media asset are scheduled for passing The database of the scheduling interval sent, the database can be located locally in storage device or can remotely visit via communication network It asks.As a specific example, database can be arranged with table, and wherein each row is in individual cell (that is, field) comprising being adjusted Identifier, time started, end time and the content source that can from it obtain media asset of the degree for the media asset of storage (that is, current).Media guidance application can by execute data base query language script (such as SQL script) come read/ Write the information.For example, if media guidance application determines that the first media asset is rescheduled to different content sources, matchmaker Field comprising current can be updated to different content sources by body guidance application, as described further below.

Then, media guidance, which is applied, monitors during the time interval of scheduling and receives together with video from first content source Data grouping.For example, once it is determined that the time interval (for example, it is at 4 points in afternoon) of the scheduling of media asset has begun, matchmaker Body guidance application can execute procedure script to check the data grouping received from first content source (for example, ESPN) with true Determine whether football match currently can obtain (for example, the football match is just broadcasted on ESPN) from first content source.

Media guidance is applied and extracts the first media asset indicator from the data grouping of monitoring.For example, media guidance is answered With SQL script can be executed by ordering using declaratively " selection ", divide from together with the audio-visual data of media asset in data Media asset indicator is extracted in the field in table sent in group.The identifier be for the first media asset it is unique, from And allow media guidance to apply and distinguish it with other media assets, and it can be the title of media asset, either Based on the integer hashed automatically from the scheduling delivery time of content source.In some embodiments, media guidance application receives packet Table containing information relevant to the video from first content source.For example, the table can be organized into comprising with currently from first The row of the relevant metadata of the program that content source receives, metadata such as program indicator (for example, it is corresponding with program only One alphanumeric code) and program description.Then, media guidance application can be retrieved and the first media from the field in table The corresponding value of assets indicator.For example, as described above, media guidance application can retrieve indicator, such as " FTBL1485 ".

The the first media asset indicator extracted is compared by media guidance application with the identifier of the first media asset. For example, media guidance applies the database of the accessible identifier comprising media asset, and determine (for example, via character With) the media asset indicator that is extracted from media asset stream whether the mark of the first media asset with storage in the database Symbol matching.In some embodiments, media guidance applies the identifier for storing the first media asset together with user's request.Example Such as, when media guidance application receives user's selection of storage football match, media guidance application memory can come from providing The identifier of the football match of the content source of football match.Media guidance application can be by the identifier of the first media asset Character is compared with the character of the first media asset indicator extracted.For example, media guidance application can be by the finger of extraction Show that each character of symbol (such as " FTBL1485 ") is compared with the identifier of storage.Media guidance application can determine if The character match of number of thresholds or percentage, the then identifier match of the indicator and storage that extract.

In response to determining that the media asset indicator extracted does not correspond to the identifier of the first media asset, media guidance is answered With the data grouping that is received in multiple content sources of search to find including corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset the Second data grouping of two media asset indicators.For example, media guidance application can be based on from currently receiving from ESPN The indicator that media asset extracts mismatches (for example, as described above based on compared with database) with the identifier of football match It determines and is scheduled on ESPN the football match of 4 points of broadcasts in the afternoon currently without broadcast.In response to the determination, media guidance is answered With the other content sources that can scan user's subscription, is passed through with trial and extract indicator from data grouping as described above and will mention The identifier of the indicator and media asset that take is compared to find the content source that wherein can get media asset.

In some embodiments, when the data grouping that receives in multiple content sources of search is to find the second data grouping When, media guidance application access include multiple content sources information database, wherein the information include multiple content sources with The instruction of the similar subset of each content source in multiple content sources.For example, media guidance is locally stored in using accessible Database in memory or be remotely stored in can be via the database at the Media guidance data source of communication network access.It can By the design database in a manner of self reference, wherein the identifier of each content source and information discontinuous can be contained in individually In table, and appropriate field corresponding with the similar content source in table is linked to via pointer.Then, media guidance apply from The instruction that the second content source is similar to first content source is retrieved in field in the associated database in first content source.For example, Media guidance application can execute data base query language script, such as SQL script, from word associated with first content source The identifier of (for example, via sentence declaratively " is selected ") second content source is retrieved in section.Then, media guidance application searches are come From the data grouping of the second content source, to find the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset. For example, as described above, media guidance application fetches currently just from the second content source send media asset indicator, and determine Its whether the identifier match with the first media asset.

Include and the first media in response to determining from the second data grouping that the second content source of multiple content sources receives The corresponding second media asset indicator of the identifier of assets, media guidance is applied to be updated in the first field of the entry of storage Current, to indicate that the first media asset is being sent from the second content source.For example, once according to from content source The data grouping of the extraction of " ESPN2 " determine football match just in ESPN2 rather than broadcasted on ESPN, media guidance application can To update storage the field corresponding with current in the entry in data structure, to reflect football match never Same content source ESPN2 is broadcasted.As a specific example, media guidance application can execute procedure script with update storage with needle To the value in associated first field of entry of football match storage.

First matchmaker of the current that media guidance application memory indicates in the first field of the entry in storage Body assets.For example, media guidance application can updated in the first field based on storage entry in the database work as Preceding content source value stores the football match from ESPN2 rather than from ESPN.In some embodiments, media guidance application It can continue the data grouping for the media asset that monitoring is currently just being received from the second content source, be with determining first media asset No first content source or another content source of being scheduled back.For example, the reason of football match is rescheduled to ESPN2 may It is because being scheduled in the competitive sports delay terminated at 4 points in afternoon on ESPN.In this case, when from the second content source When (for example, ESPN2) is stored, media guidance application can continue to monitor whether still to receive football match on ESPN2.Very After clock, the match on ESPN may terminate, and " Michigan v.USC " football match may dispatch back from ESPN2 ESPN.By continuing to monitor the media asset received together with the audio-visual data of media asset during the time interval of scheduling Indicator, media guidance application can detect the change of content source at any time and search and storage comes since current thereon It can get the media asset of the content source of media asset.

In some embodiments, whether runing time is longer than it to the media asset of the scheduled storage of media guidance application review The time slot of scheduling and/or its scheduling time slot before start.During the first time interval except the time interval of scheduling, The data grouping that media guidance application monitors receive together with video from first content source.For example, media guidance application can be with (it can be customizable by a user (start for example, being scheduled in media asset to setting time before the scheduled beginning of program 30 minutes before)) monitor the data grouping received together with video from first content source.As illustrated examples, if by 4 points of competitive sports terminated terminate earlier than expected in the afternoon for scheduling, then media guidance application can capture pre-games camera lens (pre-game footage) or information.Alternatively, or in addition, media guidance applies the knot in scheduled media asset The beam time monitors the data grouping received together with video from first content source later.For example, the first matchmaker of scheduled storage Body assets itself may run more than the end time of scheduling.In this case, media guidance application can as described above after The data grouping that continuous monitoring is received from first content source, and continue to store media asset, until together with video out of first The data grouping that Rong Yuan is received no longer with the identifier match of media asset (for example, instruction media asset terminated).It can replace For ground or additionally, media guidance application can search at the end or after the time interval of scheduling more by as described above A content source is over determining media asset and is not rescheduled to another content source.

In some embodiments, media asset can be stored in multiple segments from different content source.For example, foot Ball match can start on ESPN2, but be moved to ESPN after five minutes, because the program being delayed on ESPN is Through terminating.In this case, the first segment of media asset of the media guidance application memory from the second content source, institute as above It states.For example, media guidance application can store when competing beginning from ESPN2, rather than what the ESPN of primitive scheduling was received Football match.Then, the second segment of the first media asset that media guidance application memory is received from first content source.Example Such as, media guidance determines that football match has been scheduled back using the above method and ESPN and stores the foot that receives from ESPN Second segment of ball match.Then, media guidance is applied the first segment and the second fragment assembly into single storage file.Example Such as, the segments of two of football match storages of media guidance application combination so that user it is accessible entirely compete individually deposit Store up file.Media guidance application additionally stores the single storage file by first content source and the in the single storage file The instruction of two content sources creation.For example, media guidance application can store the finger that stored file is made by multiple content sources Show, so as to the user reminding fact.

In some embodiments, when by two store fragment assembly together when, media guidance apply from first The first time stamp of the first segment is extracted in the metadata of Duan Yiqi storage.For example, media guidance application can extract first Section is stored since " 19:00:00 " (HH:MM:SS).Media guidance is applied from the metadata stored together with the second segment Middle the second timestamp for extracting the second segment.For example, it is from " 19:05:00 " that media guidance application, which can extract the second segment, (HH:MM:SS) start storage.Then, media guidance application relatively first time stamp and the second timestamp, which to determine more It is early.For example, media guidance application can based on the timestamp that two are extracted is subtracted each other and based on being obtained from subtraction the result is that Which just still bearing to determine timestamp earlier.In response to determining that stamp is earlier at the first time, media guidance is applied the second segment It is added to the end of the first segment.For example, media guidance using will be spliced to the second segment stored since ESPN from The end of first segment of the football match of ESPN2 storage.

In some embodiments, the duration for the first media asset that media guidance application will store and the time of scheduling Interval is compared.For example, media guidance application can determine that the football match of storage has one hour duration and incites somebody to action The time interval (it can be two hours) of itself and the scheduling of football match is compared.In response to determining the media asset of storage Duration be shorter than the time interval dispatched, duration of the media asset that media guidance application will store and scheduling when Between interval between difference be compared with threshold value difference.For example, media guidance application can determine that the football match of storage is short In the interval of the scheduling of football match, and difference (for example, one hour) is greater than threshold value difference (for example, 5 minutes).In response to true Surely the difference between the duration of the media asset stored and the time interval of scheduling meets threshold value difference, media guidance application Determine that the first media asset of storage is imperfect.For example, media guidance application is determined due in the interval of scheduling and actual storage Duration between there are one hour difference, which is greater than threshold value difference, therefore the football match stored is imperfect.

In some embodiments, between the duration of media asset and the time interval of scheduling in response to determining storage Difference meet threshold value difference, media guidance application additionally according to from media guidance data library searching to media asset list Determine whether the first media asset can get in time in the future.For example, media guidance application can determination may not yet store More than a part (for example, one hour) of the football match of threshold value (for example, five minutes), then retrieved from Media guidance data source List is to determine whether media asset is available (for example, replay) in time in the future.Media guidance application can provide media The character of the identifier of production is compared with each list, to determine that media asset can get in time in the future.In response to true Fixed first media asset can be obtained in time in the future from third content source, and media guidance application memory is stored from third content source The second request (for example, in data structure of such as table, as described above) of first media asset.For example, media guidance application It can determine that media asset can be obtained from third content source, third content source can be first, second or different content sources, and And scheduling stores the request of media asset from third content source (for example, ABC).By the replay of scheduled media assets, media refer to South application may be able to determine that the media asset of original storage whether complete (for example, it terminates earlier than interval of its scheduling) or Whether person lacks a part of media asset.

In some embodiments, media guidance application is merely stored in a part of the media asset of time in the future scheduling. Media guidance apply from for storage media asset multiple frames in each frame store metadata in retrieve and multiple frames in Each frame associated time.For example, received by media guidance application and each frame of storage can have with from content source Send the metadata of the time correlation connection of frame (for example, format is HH:MM:SS:FF, wherein FF is frame number).Media guidance is answered With can determine a part for missing the first media asset between first frame and the second frame.For example, media guidance application can be examined It measures after the frame with correlation time 19:05:00:01, next frame has correlation time 19:10:00:01, and media Guidance application can determine that a part of (for example, five minutes of media asset) are missed from the media asset of storage.Then, due to Second request, media guidance application can store the instruction for only storing the first part of the first media asset.For example, in order to create From the beginning the full release of media asset without storing entire media asset (this may be that storage is intensive), media guidance again Application memory only stores the instruction of the frame (for example, first part) for the media asset missed from the first media asset of storage.

It should be noted that above system and/or method can be applied to other systems, method and/or equipment, Huo Zhegen According to other systems, method and/or equipment come using.

Detailed description of the invention

It is considered in conjunction with the accompanying described in detail below, the above and other objects and advantages of the disclosure will become obvious, Wherein identical label indicates identical part in the whole text, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is according to some embodiments of the present disclosure for determining the scheduled media asset stored from a content source It has been rescheduled the flow chart of the illustrative steps to transmit from another content source；

Fig. 2 shows according to some embodiments of the present disclosure from content source comprising media asset information and audio-visual data The illustrated examples of the data grouping received；

Fig. 3 is shown to be shown according to display the illustrative of screen for access media content of some embodiments of the present disclosure Example；

Fig. 4 is shown to be said according to another of the display screens using access media content of some embodiments of the present disclosure Bright property example；

Fig. 5 is the block diagram according to the illustrative user facilities of some embodiments of the present disclosure；

Fig. 6 is the block diagram according to the illustrative media system of some embodiments of the present disclosure；

Fig. 7 is according to some embodiments of the present disclosure for determining the scheduled media asset stored from a content source It has been rescheduled another flow chart of the illustrative steps to transmit from another content source；

Fig. 8 is according to an embodiment of the present disclosure for searching for the illustrative of the data grouping received from multiple content sources The flow chart of step；And

Whether it is the complete of media asset that Fig. 9 is according to the media asset for determining storage of some embodiments of the present disclosure The flow chart of the illustrative steps of full page sheet.

Specific embodiment

Provide for determine it is scheduled from the media asset that a content source stores be rescheduled with from another The system and method for content source transmission.The system and method can be used for more efficiently determining that media asset has been rescheduled And the media asset has been rescheduled the source to be sent.For example, received together with media asset by inspection The content (for example, field in Event Information Table) for identifying the data grouping for the media asset being currently being received, in set-top box Or the media guidance application executed in other user equipment devices can determine that the media asset of scheduled storage is current in real time Do not sent from the content source of primitive scheduling.In response to determining that media asset cannot be obtained from the content source of primitive scheduling, media The grouping that guidance application may search for receiving from other content sources determines content source that media asset has been rescheduled to And store the media asset from that content source.In some embodiments, media guidance apply based on content source with it is original Which content source is the similitude of the content source of scheduling selectively select to first have to search for (for example, if program is initially dispatched On ESPN, then ESPN2 can be in the content source searched for first).

As mentioned in this article, " media guidance application " or " interactive media guidance application " or " media guidance is answered sometimes With " or " guidance application " be to allow customer consumption and/or navigate to the application of media asset.In some embodiments, media refer to South application can be used as application on site and provide (that is, providing on website), or as the independence on server, user equipment etc. Using offer.In some embodiments, media guidance application can execute in the first equipment and the second equipment simultaneously, Huo Zhe It executes at position far from any appliance (for example, remote server), or executes in any suitable combination.In some embodiments In, the control circuit system being mounted on various equipment and platform can execute media guidance application, describe as detailed below 's.In some embodiments, media guidance application can be encoded on a computer-readable medium and/or is begged for herein for executing Any instruction of any embodiment of opinion.Computer-readable medium includes data-storable any medium.It is computer-readable Medium can be transient state, the electric signal or electromagnetic signal including but not limited to propagated, or can be it is non-transient, including but Be not limited to volatile and non-volatile computer storage or storage equipment, such as hard disk, floppy disk, usb driver, DVD, CD, Media card, register memory, processor cache, random access memory (" RAM ") etc..

Fig. 1 is the explanation for the output based on user preference adjustment media asset according to some embodiments of the present disclosure The flow chart of property step.For example, realizing that the media guidance application of processing 100 can be executed by control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5). It should be noted that processing 100 or its any step can in figures 5-6 shown in execute or be provided by it in any equipment.

Processing 100 starts from 102, and wherein media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) receives User's request of first media asset in first content source of the storage in multiple content sources during the time interval of scheduling. For example, media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) can via user input interface (for example, through By user input interface 510 (Fig. 5)) 4-6 in afternoon point is received from the specific football match " Michigan of channel " ESPN " storage The user of the option of v.USC " selects.Mobile device or any other side for selecting the program to be stored can be used in user From set-top box, remotely selection is stored in program column to method in the series record option of all football matches for specific team The option of football match in table screen (for example, in grid guide (Fig. 3-4)).As mentioned in this article, " storage " should It is understood to imply and allows user to access media money after its original transmission for persistently saving media asset Any method or system produced.In some embodiments, storage media asset can be by set-top box or record from transmission media Other user equipments of the media asset of the content source of assets execute.It in other embodiments, can be by via communication network Network executes storage media asset from the copy of remote server downloads of media assets.

Processing 100 proceeds to 104, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) The time interval of scheduling has begun.For example, media guidance application can be from internal clocking (for example, as described in Fig. 5-6 User equipment devices in) determine (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) current time.Then, media guidance is answered Current time and the first media being stored in data structure can be provided with (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) It is compared at the beginning of the scheduling time inter of production, to determine whether current time matches with the time started.

Processing 100 proceeds to 106, wherein media guidance application monitors (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) The data grouping received together with video from first content source, this will be described in detail in following Fig. 7.For example, media refer to South using (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) procedure script can be executed check from first content source (for example, Whether the data grouping ESPN) received can be obtained (for example, football match is just with determining football match currently from first content source It is broadcasted on ESPN).Media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) can be continuously or between predetermined Every period monitoring data grouping to reduce calculating cost.

Processing 100 proceeds to 108, and wherein media guidance, which is applied, extracts from the data grouping of monitoring (for example, via control Circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the first media asset indicator.For example, media guidance application " can declaratively be selected " by utilizing Order executes SQL script and extracts from the field in the table sent in data grouping together with the audio-visual data with media asset (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) media asset indicator.As mentioned in this article, " media asset indicator " Should be understood that and mean to the unique any identifier of the first media asset, thus allow media guidance apply by its with it is other Media asset distinguishes.In some embodiments, media asset indicator can be media asset with alphanumeric character shape The title or title of formula.In other embodiments, media asset indicator can be based on the scheduling delivery time from content source And the integer hashed automatically.In still other embodiments, " media asset indicator " can be divided, including by media Any media asset is currently transmitted with determination in multiple component parts that guidance application uses.For example, media guidance application can To receive multiple information fields (for example, as shown in following Fig. 2), and determined currently using more than one field Any media asset sent.

In some embodiments, media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) receive comprising with The table of the relevant information of video from first content source.For example, the table can be organized into comprising with currently from first content The row of the relevant metadata of the program that source receives, the indicator of metadata such as program is (for example, unique word corresponding with program Alphanumeric code) and program description, in greater detail such as Fig. 2.Then, media guidance application can be from the field in table Retrieve value corresponding with the first media asset indicator.For example, as described above, media guidance application can retrieve indicator, it is all Such as " FTBL1485 ".

Processing 100 proceeds to 110, the first media asset indicator and the first media that wherein media guidance application will extract The identifier of assets is compared (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)).For example, media guidance is using accessible (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) includes that the database of the identifier of media asset (is deposited for example, being locally stored in In reservoir (for example, storage device 508), or being remotely stored in can be via communication network (for example, communication network 614) access At Media guidance data source (for example, Media guidance data source 618)), and determine (for example, via character match) from media asset The media asset indicator extracted in stream whether the identifier match with storage the first media asset in the database.

In some embodiments, together with user's request, media guidance application memory is (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the first media asset identifier.For example, when media guidance application is (for example, via the (figure of control circuit system 504 5) when) receiving user's selection (for example, from user input interface 510 (Fig. 5)) of storage football match, media guidance application is deposited Storage can come from providing the identifier of the football match of the content source of the football match.Media guidance application can be by the first matchmaker The character of the identifier of body assets is compared (for example, via control electricity with the character of the first media asset indicator extracted Road system 504 (Fig. 5)).For example, media guidance application can be by each character of the indicator (such as " FTBL1485 ") of extraction (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is compared with the identifier of storage.Media guidance application can determine (example Such as, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) if number of thresholds or percentage character match, the indicator extracted with deposit The identifier match of storage.

Processing 100 proceeds to 112, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Whether the media asset indicator of extraction corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset.For example, media guidance application can execute (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) procedure script, the procedure script output extract indicator whether with storage The first media asset identifier match (for example, " FTBL1485 " be both the indicator of extraction and storage identifier). Whether media guidance application can be received (for example, via control electricity with the identifier match of storage based on the indicator of extraction Road system 504 (Fig. 5)) as performed procedure script output boolean results.

If media guidance application determines that the media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset, Processing 100 proceeds to 114, and wherein media guidance application memory (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is out of first The media asset that Rong Yuan is received.For example, in the mark for determining the identifier extracted with the storage for corresponding to the first media asset When symbol matching, media guidance application can store (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) from the content source (example initially dispatched Such as, ESPN) football match that receives.Media guidance application can continue in entire scheduling time inter monitoring (for example, through By control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) data grouping that is received from first content source, to determine whether no longer from first content Source sends the first media asset and just sends the first media asset (for example, processing 100 may return to from different content sources Step 106).

If media guidance application determines that the media asset indicator extracted does not correspond to the identifier of the first media asset, Then processing 100 proceeds to 116, and wherein media guidance application searches (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) are multiple The data grouping received in content source is referred to finding including the second media asset corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset Show the second data grouping of symbol.For example, media guidance application can be based on extracting from the media asset that currently receives from ESPN Indicator with football match identifier mismatch (for example, as described above based on compared with database) determine (for example, through By control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) football match of 4 points of broadcasts in the afternoon is scheduled on ESPN currently without broadcast.Response In the determination, media guidance application can scan other content sources of user's subscription (for example, via the (figure of control circuit system 504 5)), to attempt by extracting indicator from data grouping as described above and by the mark of the indicator of extraction and media asset Symbol is compared to find the content source that wherein can get media asset.

Processing 100 proceeds to 118, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Whether the second data grouping received from the second content source in multiple content sources includes identifier with the first media asset Corresponding second media asset indicator.For example, media guidance application can be in the data grouping received from the second content source Middle extraction (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) media asset indicator (for example, " FTBL1485 ") and institute as above It states and determines whether it matches the identifier for the first media asset that (for example, via character match) is stored in data structure.

If media guidance application determines the second data grouping packet that the second content source from multiple content sources receives The second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset is included, then handles 100 and proceeds to 124, wherein media The first media asset that guidance application storage (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is received from the second content source. For example, media guidance application can determine that football match is just being sent from the station based on according to the data grouping received from ESPN2 The football match received from ESPN2 rather than to store (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) from ESPN.

If media guidance is not wrapped using determination from the second data grouping that the second content source of multiple content sources receives The second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset is included, then handles 100 and proceeds to 120, wherein media Guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) with the presence or absence of not yet searched any additional content Source.For example, media guidance application can execute the journey that (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) includes " for " circulation Sequence script, the content source which iteratively subscribes to from user receive the data grouping comprising media asset indicator, and when next It is terminated when being all examined from the data grouping comprising media asset indicator in all the elements source.Alternatively, or in addition, Media guidance application can be safeguarded therefrom extracts the content source list of data grouping (for example, at storage device 508 (Fig. 5) In), and determine whether that any content source that user subscribes to is examined not yet.

If media guidance application determines that, there is no not yet searched any additional content data, processing 100 proceeds to 122, wherein media guidance application returns to (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) unavailable first media asset and uses In storage.For example, media guidance application can determine (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) football match not from The available any content source of user is sent.Alternatively, or in addition, once it is determined that football match is not from user available What content source is sent, and media guidance application can send (for example, via communication network 614 (Fig. 6)) due to adjusting to user The variation arranged is spent, the notice of football match can not be stored.

If media guidance application determines there is not yet searched additional content data, processing 100 returns to 116, Middle media guidance application searches (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) connect in not yet searched multiple content sources The data grouping received is to find second including the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset Data grouping.For example, media guidance application can continue searching (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) as described above The data grouping received from different content sources, to find media asset instruction corresponding with the identifier of the football match stored Symbol.

It is expected that the step of Fig. 1 or description can be used together with any other embodiment of the disclosure.In addition, about The step of Fig. 1 is described and description can be completed with alternate orders or concurrently, to further realize the purpose of the disclosure.For example, Each step in these steps can execute in any order or parallel or substantially simultaneously, to reduce lag or improve system Or the speed of method.For example, multiple examples of processing 100 can be executed for multiple tuners in set-top box, these tunings Each of device is scheduled as receiving different media assets for storing.It is further noted that being discussed about Fig. 5-6 Any equipment or equipment can be used for executing one or more steps in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows according to some embodiments of the present disclosure from content source comprising media asset information and audio-visual data The illustrated examples of the data grouping received.For example, Fig. 2 shows applied from content source by media guidance (for example, in media Appearance source 616 (Fig. 6)) receive comprising various information relevant to the presentation of program data grouping 200 (for example, media provide Produce information-data packet 202 and audio-visual data grouping 204).For example, media asset information-data packet 202 may include description The text information of media asset, its source, duration etc., as described further below.Audio-visual data grouping 204 can wrap Apply the information for exporting program on the display screen (for example, pixel color/luminance information, audio frequency containing media guidance With amplitude etc.).

Media asset information-data packet may include about " the ATSC recommendation for meeting company, Advanced Television Systems Committee The information of the media asset of practice: the program and system information protocol implementation guide of broadcaster ", the implementation guide describe use In the consistent structure arrangement and format of the tables of data of the supplemental information comprising the audio-visual information to media asset.As generally begging for By the specific cluster of media asset information-data packet 202 may include packet ID 206.For example, packet ID 206 can lead to Hash (for example, to function of each grouping distribution index value (such as integer)) Lai Shengcheng is crossed, and can be allows media to refer to South application reference specific cluster and the integer or character string for mapping that audio-visual data grouping.This can permit media guidance and answers Correspond to particular media asset information (for example, it allows media to refer to determining specific audio-visual data grouping or data packet assembly South application determines that media asset is currently sent).The specific cluster of media asset information-data packet 202 additionally includes Event information 208 and rating information 210.It is relevant attached to the extended description of program, channel list or any other relevant information Adding information 212 also can be contained in media asset information-data packet 202.

Rating information 210 can be arranged to table, wherein different gradings and the different people that may receiving the program Group's matching.It is rated for example, media guidance application can receive wherein media asset in Texas such as rating information table The program of TV-14 defined in 210.The information can be used to realize that parent controls setting in media guidance application, that is, locking Program on the grading of some content is to prevent user from watching, unless they have code or personal identification number to unlock the section Mesh.

It include that event information 208 in media asset information-data packet can be disposed in table, as shown in Figure 2. The content source 214 of the audio-visual data sent simultaneously with media asset information can pass through channel number, frequency or other identifier (examples Such as, such as station name of " ESPN ") it identifies.The table can arrange based on event id (such as event id 216), event ID is indexed the information in table based on its broadcast time and content.For example, having the event id 216 of index " 1 " can refer to Current broadcast items of the generation from content source 214, and the event id with more massive index may refer to the program dispatched in the future and compile Row.For each event id, which is included in local time started 218, such as information of " 12:30 ".Time can be small with 12 When format arrangements, wherein specifying additional position to distinguish AM and PM or time and can arrange with 24-hour format.Each event ID also includes by the length 220 of the particular event ID media asset described.Length can about any time length, but in order to For the sake of convenient, the hour of decimal or day may may be needed to be more highly preferred to than using using the integer value through rounding up of second.

Each event id additionally includes title, such as title 222 " football ".Title can be the word of identification media asset Any combination of female numerical character, although it can be restricted to quantity in data grouping for the efficiency of transmission Byte.In some cases, the additional longer description of media asset can be found for each event id (for example, program 228 Description) (for example, summary that summarized content is fallen with short section).But in some cases, for describing the field of program 228 It may include the pointer that direction may include another table of description in individual data grouping.Each event id include to The descriptor of content cited in media guidance applicative notifications particular event ID.For example, event id 216 can describe descriptor 224 " contents ", because it includes the information about media asset itself.As another example, different event ids can be retouched It states from content source 214 with the data or non-audio-visual data that receive outside, such as descriptor 226 " closed caption ".

In some embodiments, media guidance application can be received from first content source comprising information relevant to video Table.For example, media guidance application can receive the event information 208 being arranged in table as shown in Figure 2.Then, media guidance is answered With value corresponding with the first media asset indicator can be retrieved from the field in table.For example, media guidance application can be examined Rigging has the title 222 " football " of the event id 216 of index " 1 ", because it indicates current from the transmission of content source 214 Media asset.Alternatively, or in addition, media guidance application can retrieve number corresponding with the description of program 228 from field According to, and combine the title 222 retrieved using the data to ensure more accurately to determine media asset currently from content source 214 send.For example, media guidance application can be based on the description for retrieving title 222 " football " and program 228 " Michigan V.USC " determination " football-Michigan v.USC " is current to be sent from content source 214.In this way, Media guidance application can extract additional information from data grouping, more accurately whether to determine the first media asset indicator With the identifier match of media asset.

In any given content delivery system, the available inner capacities of user can be very big.Therefore, many user's expectations By allow user efficiently navigation content select and readily recognize the content that they may expect interface media guidance Form.The application for providing this guide is referred to herein as interactive media guidance application, or sometimes referred to as media refer to South application or guidance application.

Interactive media guidance application can provide the content of guide based on them and take various forms.It is a kind of typical Media guidance application type is interactive TV program guide.(sometimes referred to as electronic programming refers to interactive TV program guide South) it is well-known guidance application, apart from the others, especially permission user leads in a plurality of types of interior perhaps media assets Boat and positioning.Graphical user interface screens can be generated in interactive media guidance application, this allows users to lead between content Boat, positioning and selection.As mentioned in this article, term " media asset " and " content " should be understood as meaning that electronics can be consumed User's assets, such as TV programme and pay-per view program, request program (such as in order video (VOD) system), mutually Networking content (for example, stream content, downloadable content, Web broadcast (Webcast) etc.), video clipping, audio, content Information, picture, rotation image, document, playlist, website, article, books, e-book, blog, chat sessions, social matchmaker Body, application, game and/or any other media or multimedia and/or combination thereof.Guidance application also allows user between content It is navigated and is positioned.As mentioned in this article, term " multimedia " should be understood as meaning using above-mentioned at least two not The content of same content-form (such as text, audio, image, video or interaction content form).Content can be set by user equipment The a part of note, broadcasting, display or access but it is also possible to be live show.

Media guidance for executing any embodiment being discussed herein is applied and/or any instruction can in computer It reads to be encoded on medium.Computer-readable medium includes data-storable any medium.Computer-readable medium can be Transient state, the electric signal or electromagnetic signal including but not limited to propagated, or can be it is non-transient, it is including but not limited to volatile Property and non-volatile computer memory or storage equipment, such as hard disk, floppy disk, usb driver, DVD, CD, media card, deposit Device memory, processor cache, random access memory (" RAM "), etc..

With the appearance of internet, mobile computing and fast wireless network, user does not access media traditionally at them Media are accessed in user equipment devices.As mentioned in this article, phrase " user equipment devices ", " user equipment ", " user sets It is standby ", " electronic equipment ", " electronics ", " media facilities " or " media device " should be understood as meaning for accessing Any equipment of above content, such as television set, intelligence TV, set-top box, the integrated receiver for handling satellite television decode Device (IRD), digital storage equipment, digital media receiver (DMR), DMA (DMA), streaming media equipment, DVD player, DVD recorder, the DVD of connection, local media server, BLU-RAY player, BLU-RAY logger, individual Computer (PC), laptop computer, tablet computer, WebTV box, personal computer TV (PC/TV), PC media services Device, PC media center, handheld computer, fixed-line telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone, portable video play Device, portable music player, portable game machine, smart phone or any other TV equipment calculate equipment or wirelessly set It is standby, and/or combination thereof.In some embodiments, user equipment devices can have the screen of face forward and towards rear Screen, multiple front screens or multiple angled screens.In some embodiments, user equipment devices can have forward Square video camera and/or the video camera towards rear.In these user equipment devices, user can pass through television set It is navigated and is positioned in available identical content.Therefore, media guidance can also can be used on devices.Provided finger South can be used for only through the available content of television set, for only can by the user equipment devices of one or more of the other type Content, or for both passing through television set further through the available content of user equipment devices of one or more of the other type. Media guidance application can be used as application on site (that is, being provided on website) or as in user equipment devices independent utility or Client provides.The various equipment and platform that media guidance application may be implemented are described in more detail below.

Media guidance application function first is that providing a user media guidance data.As mentioned in this article, phrase " matchmaker Body guidance data " or " guidance data " should be understood as meaning related to the interior perhaps data used in operating guidance application Any data.For example, guidance data may include programme information, guidance application setting, user preference, subscriber profile information, Media list, media-related information are (for example, broadcast time, broadcasting channel, title, description, rating information are (for example, parent controls Grading, the grading of reviewer, etc.), school or classification information, actor information, the logo for broadcaster or provider Logo data, etc.), media formats (for example, standard definition, fine definition, 3D, etc.), IP Information On Demand, blog, website And facilitate the guidance data for any other type that user navigates and positions in desired content selection.

Fig. 3-4 shows the illustrative display screen that may be used to provide media guidance data.The display shown in Fig. 3-4 Screen can be realized in any suitable user equipment devices or platform.Although the display of Fig. 3-4 is illustrated as being displayed in full screen, They can also completely or partially be covered in the content shown.User can be provided within display screen by selection Optional option (for example, menu option, list option, icon, hyperlink etc.) or press remote controler or other users and input boundary Dedicated button (for example, GUIDE button) on face or equipment indicates the expectation of access content information.In response to the finger of user Show, media guidance application can provide the media guidance data of one of in a number of ways tissue to display screen, such as by grid Time and channel, temporally, by channel, by sources, by content type, category is (for example, film, sport, news, children Or other program categories) or other predefined, user-defined or other organizational standards.

Fig. 3 show according to the time and channel arrangement the rendition list show 300 illustrative grid, also allow for Different types of content in the single display of access.Display 300 may include grid 302, include (1) channel/content type The column 304 of identifier, wherein each channel/content type identifier (it is the cell in column) available different frequencies of identification Road or content type；(2) row 306 of time identifier, wherein each time identifier (it is the cell in row) identification The time block of program.Grid 302 further includes the cell of the rendition list, such as the rendition list 308, wherein each list provides The title of the associated channel of list and the program provided on the time.Using user input equipment, user can be by mobile high Bright area 310 selects the rendition list.The program that can be provided in programme information region 312 and be selected by highlight regions 310 The related information of list.Region 312 may include for example program title, program description, program be provided time (if applicable If), the grading and other desired information of channel (if applicable), program where program.

In addition to providing the access to linear program (for example, being arranged at the predetermined time is sent to multiple user equipment devices And the content provided according to timetable), media guidance application also provide to the access of non-linear program (for example, it is in office when Between user equipment devices may have access to and the content that does not provide as per the schedule).Non-linear program may include from different content The content in source, including on-demand content (such as VOD), internet content (for example, streaming media, Downloadable media etc.), The content (for example, being stored in the content in any user equipment devices as described above or other storage equipment) that is locally stored or Other contents being unrelated with the time.On-demand content may include film or by particular content provider (for example, provide " The The HBO On Demand of Sopranos " and " Curb Your Enthusiasm ") provide any other content.HBO ON DEMAND is the service mark that Time Warner (Time Warner) company L.P. et al. possesses, and THE SOPRANOS and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM is the trade mark possessed by Home Box Office company.Internet content may include web thing Part (such as chat sessions or Web broadcast), or internet site or other internet access (for example, FTP) conduct can be passed through Streaming content or downloadable content available content on demand.

Grid 302 can provide the media guidance data for non-linear program, including in program request list 314, record Hold list 316 and internet content list 318.Combine the aobvious of the media guidance data of the content from different types of content source Show sometimes referred to as " mixed-media " display.It is being shown, each from the type of 300 different media guidance datas of display Kind of transformation (permutations) can be based on user's selection or guidance application definition (for example, the list, only for only recording and broadcasting The display of the list of program request and broadcast etc.).As shown, list 314,316 and 318 is illustrated as showing across in grid 302 Entire time block, with indicate the selection of these lists can provide respectively to the list for being exclusively used in program request list, record or mutually The access of the display of networking list.In some embodiments, the list for being used for these content types can be directly included in net In lattice 302.Additional media guidance data can select in response to user one of navigation icon 320 and is shown.(press user Arrow key on input equipment can influence to show in the mode similar with selection navigation icon 320.)

Display 300 can also include video area 322 and option area 326.Video area 322 can permit user and watch And/or preview user it is currently available, will available or once available program.The content of video area 322 can in grid 302 One of list of display is corresponding or unrelated with its.Grid including video area shows that sometimes referred to as picture-in-picture (PIG) is aobvious Show.The United States Patent (USP) No.6,564,378 of Satterfield et al. is authorized on May 13rd, 2003 and on May 29th, 2001 awards The United States Patent (USP) No.6 of Yuen et al. is given, PIG is described in further detail in 239,794 and shows and its function, the two patents Full content is incorporated herein by reference on the whole.PIG show can be included in embodiment described herein other media Guidance application is shown in screen.

Option area 326 can permit the different types of content of user's access, media guidance application display and/or media and refer to Apply feature in south.Option area 326 can be the part of display 300 (and other display screens described herein), Huo Zheke By option on selection screen or to be pressed dedicated in user input equipment by user or button can be assigned and call.Option Selectable option in region 326 can be related to feature relevant to the rendition list in grid 302, or may include from master Menu show in available option.Feature relevant to the rendition list may include that search receives program, record program, enables The series record of program sets program and/or channel to like, buy other play times of program or other feature (airtimes) or mode.From main menu show in available option may include search option, VOD option, parent control Option processed, Internet option, option based on cloud, equipment the synchronization option, the second screen equipment option, the various types of matchmakers of access Body guidance data rendering preferences, the option for subscribing to high-level service, the option of the profile of editor user, access browse coating Option or other options.

Media guidance application can be personalized based on the preference of user.Personalized media guidance application allows user fixed System display and feature, to create the personalization " experience " using media guidance application.This individualized experience can pass through permission User is inputted these customizations and/or is created by media guidance application monitors User Activity with determination various user preferences.With Family can identify themselves by login or in other ways to guidance application to access its personalized guidance application.Media refer to The customization of south application can be carried out according to user profiles.Customization may include different presentation schemes (for example, the color of display Scheme, font size of text etc.), the various aspects of shown contents list are (for example, only HDTV or only 3D program, base The broadcasting channel specified in the user of favorite channel selection, the content of display, recommendation for channel of resequencing etc.), the phase The record feature (for example, being directed to record or series record, record quality of specific user etc.) of prestige, parent control and are arranged, mutually (for example, article etc. of social media content, Email, electron delivery) and other expectations is presented in the customization for content of networking Customization.

Media guidance application can permit user and provide subscriber profile information, or can automatic compiling user profile letter Breath.Media guidance application can for example monitor that the content of user's access and/or user may be with other interactions of guidance application.This Outside, media guidance application can obtain all or part of other user profiles relevant to specific user (for example, from internet Other websites (such as www.allrovi.com) of upper user access, the other media guidances application accessed from user, from user Other interactive applications of access, from another user equipment devices of user etc.), and/or can be with from media guidance application Other sources of access obtain the information about user.Therefore, it can be provided on the different user facilities of user for user Unified guidance application experience.Such user experience is more fully described below with reference to Fig. 6.Ellis et al. in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2005/0251827 that on July 11st, 2005 submits, Boyer etc. is authorized on January 16th, 2007 United States Patent (USP) No.7,165,098 and Ellis of people et al. were on 2 21st, 2002 U.S. Patent Application Publications submitted Additional personalized digital media guidance application feature is described in further detail in No.2002/0174430, these are whole by reference On be incorporated herein.

Another display arrangement for providing media guidance is shown in FIG. 4.Video mosaic shows that 400 include being used for The optional option 402 of content information based on content type, school and/or other organizational standard tissues.In display 400, electric It is selected depending on list option 404, therefore list 406,408,410 and 412 is provided and is used as broadcast program listing.In display 400, List can provide the graph image including Album Cover Art, the static image from content, video clip preview, from content Live video indicates to the user that content by the other types of content of the media guidance data description in list.Each figure column Table can also be accompanied with text, to provide the further information about content associated with list.For example, list 408 can be with Including more than one part, including media portion 414 and textual portions 416.Media portion 414 and/or textual portions 416 can be with Be it is selectable, watch content with full frame or watch relevant to the content shown in media portion 414 information (for example, receiving See the list for showing the channel of video).

List in display 400 has different sizes (that is, list 406 is greater than list 408,410 and 412), but such as If fruiting period is hoped, then all lists can be identical size.List can have different sizes or add to graphically By force, to indicate that the interested degree of user perhaps emphasizes that certain contents such as content provider is desired or it is inclined to be based on user It is good.Use is discussed in the U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2010/0153885 of the Yates submitted in such as on November 12nd, 2009 In the various system and method for reinforcing contents list to graphically, it is incorporated herein on the whole by reference.

User can access content and media guidance application (above and its under from one or more user equipment devices The display screen of face description).Fig. 5 shows the generalized embodiment of illustrative user facilities 500.It is begged for below with reference to Fig. 6 By the more specific realization of user equipment devices.User equipment devices 500 can be via input/output (hereinafter referred to as " I/O ") 502 reception content of path and data.The path I/O 502 can to control circuit system 504 provide content (for example, broadcast program, Available content and/or other contents on request program, internet content, local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)) sum number According to control circuit system 504 includes process circuit system 506 and memory 508.Control circuit system 504 can be used to make Order, request and other suitable data are sent and received with the path I/O 502.It the path I/O 502 can be by control circuit system 504 (specifically process circuit systems 506) are connected to one or more communication paths (being described below).I/O function can be with It is provided by the one or more in these communication paths, but is illustrated as single path in Fig. 5, to avoid keeping figure excessively multiple It is miscellaneous.

Control circuit system 504 can be based on any suitable process circuit system, such as process circuit system 506.Such as Mentioned in this article, process circuit system should be understood as meaning microprocessor, microcontroller, number based on one or more The circuit of signal processor, programmable logic device, field programmable gate array (FPGA), specific integrated circuit (ASIC) etc. System, and may include multi-core processor (for example, double-core, four cores, six cores or any appropriate number of core) or supercomputing Machine.In some embodiments, process circuit system can be distributed on multiple individual processors or processing unit, such as multiple The processing unit (for example, two Intel Core i7 processors) of same type or multiple and different processors are (for example, Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Core i7 processor).In some embodiments, the execution of control circuit system 504 is stored in Instruction in memory (that is, storage device 508), for media guidance application.Specifically, control circuit system 504 can To be indicated by media guidance application, to execute the function of discussing above and below.For example, media guidance application can be to control electricity Road system 504 provides instruction, is shown with generating media guidance.In some embodiments, appointed by what control circuit system 504 executed What movement can be based on applying received instruction from media guidance.

In the embodiment based on client-server, control circuit system 504 may include being suitable for taking with guidance application The communication circuitry that business device or other networks or server are communicated.Instruction for executing above-mentioned function can store On guidance application server.Communication circuitry may include for equipping the cable modem communicated, synthesis with other Service digital network (ISDN) modem, digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, telephone modem, ether Network interface card or radio modem or any other suitable communication circuitry.This communication can be related to internet or Any other suitable communication network or path (being more fully described in conjunction with Fig. 6).In addition, communication circuitry may include making Must can be realized user equipment devices peer-to-peer communications or position away from each other user equipment devices communication electricity Road system (is described in more detail below).

Memory can be the electronic storage device provided as storage device 508, and storage device 508 is control circuit system A part of system 504.As mentioned in this article, phrase " electronic storage device " or " storage equipment " should be understood as meaning to use In any equipment of storage electronic data, computer software or firmware, such as random access memory, read-only memory, hard disk Driver, CD drive, digital video disk (DVD) logger, CD (CD) logger, BLU-RAY disk (BD) logger, BLU-RAY 3D disc record device, digital video recorder (DVR, sometimes referred to as personal video recorder or PVR), solid condition apparatus, amount Son storage equipment, game console, game medium or any other suitable fixed or movable storage equipment and/or its Meaning combination.Storage device 508 can be used to store various types of contents described herein and above-mentioned media guidance number According to.Nonvolatile memory can also be used (for example, initiating starting routine and other instructions).About Fig. 6 description based on The storage device of cloud can be used to supplement storage device 508 or replace storage device 508.

Control circuit system 504 may include video generative circuit system and tuning circuit system, such as one or more Analog tuner, one or more MPEG-2 decoder or other digital decoding circuit systems, fine definition tuner are appointed What its suitable tuning or the combination of video circuit or this circuit.Can also provide coding circuit system (for example, with Mpeg signal is converted into for storage in inciting somebody to action (over-the-air), analog or digital signal in the air).Control circuit system 504 It can also include for by the scaler circuit system of content up-conversion and the preferred output format for being downconverted into user equipment 500 System.Circuit system 504 can also include d convertor circuit system and the mould for converting between digital and analog signaling Number converter circuit system.Tuning and coding circuit system can be used to receive and show, play or remember by user equipment devices Record content.Tuning and coding circuit system can also be used to receive guidance data.Circuit system described herein, including for example Tuning, video generate, coding, decoding, encryption, decryption, scaler and analog/digital circuit system, can be used at one or The software that runs on multiple general or specialized processors is realized.Multiple tuners can be provided to handle while tuber function (for example, viewing and writing function, picture-in-picture (PIP) function, multi-tuner record etc.).If storage device 508 is provided For the equipment separated with user equipment 500, then tuning and coding circuit system (including multiple tuners) can be with storage dresses It is associated to set 508.

User can be used user input interface 510 and send instruction to control circuit system 504.User input interface 510 It can be any suitable user interface, such as remote controler, mouse, trace ball, keypad, keyboard, touch screen, touch tablet, touching Pen input, joystick, speech recognition interface or other user input interfaces.Display 512 may be provided as independent equipment Or it is integrated with other elements of user equipment devices 500.For example, display 512 can be touch screen or touch-sensitive display.At this In the case of kind, user input interface 510 can be integrated with display 512 or be combined with display 512.Display 512 can be with Be monitor, television set, the liquid crystal display (LCD) for mobile device, amorphous silicon displays, low temperature polycrystalline silicon display, Electronic ink display, electrophoretic display device (EPD), Active Matrix Display, electric moistening display, electrofluid display, cathode-ray tube Display, light emitting diode indicator, electroluminescent display, plasma scope, high-performance addressing display, film are brilliant Body tube display, organic light emitting diode display, surface-conduction-electron emission display (SED), laser television, carbon nanometer In pipe, quantum dot displays, interferometric modulator display or any other suitable equipment for showing visual pattern It is one or more.In some embodiments, display 512 can be with HDTV ability.In some embodiments, display 512 can be 3D display device, and interactive media guidance is applied and any suitable content can be with 3D display.Video card or Graphics card can will be generated to the output of display 512.Video card can provide various functions, such as 3D scene and 2D figure Accelerate rendering, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output or the ability for connecting multiple displays.Video card can be above with respect to Any process circuit system that control circuit system 504 describes.Video card can be integrated with control circuit system 304.Loudspeaker 514 may be provided as integrated with other elements of user equipment devices 500, or can be independent unit.Display 512 The audio frequency component amount of the video of upper display and other contents can be played by loudspeaker 514.In some embodiments, audio can To be distributed to receiver (not shown), audio is handled and exported via loudspeaker 514.

Any suitable architectural framework can be used to realize in guidance application.For example, it can be completely in user equipment The independent utility realized in equipment 500.In this scheme, the instruction of application is locally stored (for example, being stored in storage device In 508), and by using data periodically downloaded (for example, from outer feeding, from Internet resources, or using other Suitable scheme).Control circuit system 504 can retrieve the instruction of application, and process instruction from storage device 508, to generate Any display discussed in this article.Based on processed instruction, control circuit system 504 can be determined from user input interface 510 will execute any movement when receiving input.For example, when user input interface 510 indicates that up/down button is selected When, it can be instructed by what will be handled come the movement of cursor up/down on indication display.

In some embodiments, media guidance application is the application based on client-server.By being filled to far from user The server of standby equipment 500 issues request, and retrieval makes for the fat or thin-client by realizing in user equipment devices 500 on demand Data.In an example of the guidance application based on client-server, control circuit system 504 operation explain by The Web browser for the webpage that remote server provides.For example, the instruction for being used to apply can be stored in storage by remote server In equipment.Circuit system (for example, control circuit system 504) can be used to handle stored instruction in remote server, and Generate the display discussed above and below.Client device can receive the display generated by remote server, and can be The content of display is locally displayed on facilities 500.In this way, the processing by Server remote executed instruction, simultaneously It is locally provided as the result is shown on facilities 500.Facilities 500 can be received via user input interface 510 to use by oneself The input at family, and send remote server for those inputs and handled and generate corresponding display.For example, facilities 500 can send the message that instruction has selected up/down button via user input interface 510 to remote server.Remotely Server can according to that input come process instruction, and generate application corresponding with the input display (for example, upward/to The display of lower mobile cursor).Display generated is then communicated to facilities 500 for being presented to the user.

In some embodiments, media guidance application is downloaded and by (being run by control circuit system 504) interpreter Or virtual machine is explained or is run in other ways.In some embodiments, guidance application can be with ETV binary swap format (EBIF) it encodes, is received by control circuit system 504 as a part suitably fed, and by control circuit system 504 The user agent of upper operation explains.For example, guidance application can be EBIF application.It in some embodiments, can be by a series of Guidance application is defined based on the file of JAVA, these files based on JAVA are by native virtual machine or by control circuit system The 504 other suitable middlewares executed are received and are run.In some such embodiments (for example, using MPEG-2 or The embodiment of other Digital Media encoding schemes), it can be for example in the MPEG-2 of mpeg audio and video packets with program Guidance application is encoded and sent in object carousel.

The user equipment devices 500 of Fig. 5 can be realized in the system 600 of Fig. 6, equip 602, user as user's TV The user equipment of computer equipment 604, wireless subscriber communication equipment 606 or any other type suitable for accessing content is (such as Non-portable game machine).For simplicity, these equipment may be collectively termed as user equipment herein or user equipment is set It is standby, and may be substantially similar to above-mentioned user equipment devices.User's dress of media guidance application may be implemented on it Standby equipment may be used as autonomous device or can be a part of the network of equipment.The various network configurations of equipment can be by reality It is discussed in more detail now and below.

May not only it be divided using the user equipment devices of at least some of the system features described above in conjunction with Fig. 5 Class is user's TV equipment 602, subscriber computer equipment 604 or wireless subscriber communication equipment 606.For example, user's TV is equipped 602 can enable internet as some subscriber computers equip 604, and to allow to access internet content, and user calculates Machine equipment 604 can include tuner as some TVs equip 602, to allow to access TV programme.Media guidance application Can on various types of user equipment layout having the same, or can for user equipment display capabilities and It is cropped.For example, guidance application may be provided as the website accessed by web browser on subscriber computer equipment 604. In another example, guidance application can be reduced for wireless subscriber communication equipment 606.

In system 600, usually there are more than one each type of user equipment devices, but only show in Fig. 6 One in each type is gone out, to avoid keeping figure excessively complicated.In addition, each user can use the use of more than one type It is more than one in family facilities and each type of user equipment devices.

In some embodiments, user equipment devices are (for example, user's TV equipment 602, subscriber computer equip 604, nothing Line user communication device 606) " the second screen equipment " can be referred to as.For example, the second screen equipment can replenish the first use The content presented on the facilities of family.The content presented on the second screen equipment can be what supplement was presented on the first device Any suitable content of content.In some embodiments, the second screen equipment provide for adjust the setting of the first equipment with Show the interface of preference.In some embodiments, the second screen equipment be configured for interacting with other second screen equipments or For being interacted with social networks.Second screen equipment can be located in room identical from the first equipment, is different with the first equipment Room but in the same house or building, or in the building different from the first equipment.

Various settings can also be arranged in user, to maintain consistent media guidance between household equipment and remote equipment Using setting.Setting include those of be described herein setting and guidance application be used to make program recommend, display preference and its The channel and program collection, programming preference of its desired guide setting.For example, if user will such as website Channel on www.allrovi.com is set as the collection on the personal computer of its office, then identical channel will be It is in the household equipment (for example, user's TV equipment and subscriber computer equipment) and the mobile device of user of user Collection.Therefore, the change carried out in a user equipment devices can change the guide body in another user equipment devices It tests, is same type or different types of user equipment devices but regardless of them.In addition, the change made can be based on user The setting of input and the User Activity monitored by guidance application.

User equipment devices may be coupled to communication network 614.That is, user's TV equipment 602, subscriber computer equipment 604 and wireless subscriber communication equipment 606 be coupled to communication network 614 via communication path 608,610 and 612 respectively.Communication network Network 614 can be one or more networks, including internet, mobile telephone network, mobile voice or data network (for example, 4G Or LTE network), the combination of cable network, Public Switched Telephone Network or other types of communication network or communication network. Path 608,610 and 612 can include one or more communication path separately or together, such as satellite path, fiber path, Cable trace, the path for supporting internet communication (for example, IPTV), free space connection are (for example, be used for broadcast or other wireless Signal) or any other suitable wired or wireless communication path or this path combination.Path 612 is drawn with dotted line, with Indicate that it is wireless path in exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 6, and path 608 and 610 is plotted as solid line, with instruction They be wireline pathway (still, if it is desired to, then these paths can be wireless path).With the communication of user equipment devices It can be provided by the one or more in these communication paths, but be illustrated in figure 6 as single path, to avoid figure is made excessively It is complicated.

Although not drawing communication path between user equipment devices, these equipment can be via communication path (such as above in conjunction with those of description of path 608,610 and 612) and other short distance point-to-point communication paths (such as USB electricity Cable, 1394 cable of IEEE, wireless path (for example, bluetooth, infrared ray, IEEE 802-11x etc.)) or via wired or wireless Other short range communications in path directly communicate with each other.Bluetooth is the authentication marks that Bluetooth SIG company possesses.User equipment Equipment can also be directly communicated with each other by the indirect path via communication network 614.

System 600 includes being coupled to the content source 616 and media of communication network 614 via communication path 620 and 622 respectively Guidance data source 618.Path 620 and 622 may include any communication path described above in conjunction with path 608,610 and 612. It can be exchanged by one or more communication path with the communication of content source 616 and Media guidance data source 618, but in Fig. 6 In be shown as individual paths, it is excessively complicated to avoid making to draw.In addition, each in content source 616 and Media guidance data source 618 A all exist more than one, but one is each illustrated only in Fig. 6, excessively complicated to avoid making to draw.(these are discussed below The different type in each of source.) if desired, content source 616 and Media guidance data source 618 can be so integrated into One source device.Although the communication between source 616 and 618 and user equipment 602,604 and 606 is illustrated as passing through communication network 614, but in some embodiments, source 616 and 618 can via communication path (not shown) directly with user equipment 602, 604 and 606 communications, communication path are such as above in conjunction with those of description of path 608,610 and 612.

Content source 616 may include the content distribution equipment of one or more types, including television distribution facilities, have linear system System head end, satellite distribution facility, program source (for example, Television Broadcasting Limited, NBC, ABC, HBO etc.), intermediate distribution facilities And/or server, Internet provider, media-on-delivery server and other content suppliers.NBC is that National Broadcasting Service possesses Trade mark, ABC is the trade mark that American Broadcasting Company possesses, and HBO is the trade mark that Home Box Office company possesses.Content Source 616 can be the promoter (for example, Television Broadcasting Limited, Web broadcast provider etc.) of content, or can not be content Promoter's (for example, on-demand content provider, Internet provider etc. of the content of the broadcast program for downloading).Content source 616 may include having line source (cable source), satellite provider, program request provider, Internet provider, more top content to mention For quotient or other content providers.Content source 616 can also include for storing in the position far from any user equipment devices The remote media server of different types of content (video content including user's selection).For content it is long-range storage and The system and method for providing the content remotely stored to user equipment combine on July 20th, 2010 to authorize the U.S. of Ellis et al. Patent No.7,761,892 discuss in more detail, which is incorporated herein by reference on the whole.

Media guidance data source 618 can provide media guidance data, such as above-mentioned media guidance data.Media guidance Data can be used any suitable scheme and be supplied to user equipment devices.In some embodiments, guidance application can be through The independent interactive TV of program guide data is received by data feeding (for example, continuous feeding or trickle (trickle) feeding) Program guide.It can be used and transmit skill with interior digital signal, using with outer digital signal or by any other suitable data Art provides programme schedule data and other guidance datas to user equipment on television channel sideband.It can be in multiple simulations or number Programme schedule data and other media guidance datas are provided to user equipment on word television channel.

In some embodiments, client-server scheme can be used by the guide from Media guidance data source 618 Data are supplied to the equipment of user.For example, user equipment devices can be from server pull media guidance data or server Media guidance data can be pushed to user equipment devices.In some embodiments, the guide resided on user equipment is answered Can initiate the session with source 618 with client, to obtain guidance data when needed, for example, when guidance data is out-of-date or Person is when user equipment devices receive the request for receiving data from user.It can be with any frequency appropriate (for example, continuous Ground, daily, period for specifying of user, system specified period, in response to request from user equipment etc.) filled to user It is standby that media guidance is provided.Media guidance data source 618 can provide media guidance to user equipment devices 602,604 and 606 and answer With itself or for media guidance application software upgrading.

In some embodiments, media guidance data may include viewer's data.For example, viewer's data may include Current and/or historical user activity information (for example, what content user usually watches, user watches content at what time, is used Whether family interacts with social networks, user interacts at what time with social networks to release news, what user usually watches The content (for example, pay TV or free television) of type, mood, brain activity information etc.).Media guidance data can also wrap Include subscription data.For example, subscribing to data can identify that given user subscribes to which source or service and/or given user's previous subscription But it terminated have accessed which source or service (for example, whether user whether to have had subscribed Premium Channel, user added later Whether high-level service, user have improved interconnection net spee).In some embodiments, viewer's data and/or subscription Data can identify that given user reaches the mode more than year section.Media guidance data may include for generating instruction User is given by the model (for example, survivor's model) of score a possibility that termination to the access of service/source.For example, media The model treatment, which can be used, in guidance application has the viewer's data for subscribing to data, indicates whether given user will be whole to generate The value or score of only to the access of special services or source a possibility that.Particularly, higher score can indicate that user will terminate To the more high level confidence level of the access of special services or source.Based on score, media guidance application, which can be generated, lures user into It keeps being indicated as user by score that the special services of access to it or the promotion in source may be terminated.

Media guidance application can be the independent utility for example realized in user equipment devices.For example, media guidance is answered With may be implemented as can store in memory 508 and executed by the control circuit system 504 of user equipment devices 500 Software or executable instruction set.In some embodiments, media guidance application can be client-server application, wherein only Client application resides in user equipment devices, and server application resides on remote server.For example, media guidance is answered With the client application that can be partly implemented as in the control circuit system 504 of user equipment devices 500, and part Ground is as the server application (for example, Media guidance data source 618) run in the control circuit system of remote server.When When being executed by the control circuit system of remote server (such as Media guidance data source 618), media guidance application can be indicated Control circuit system generates guidance application and shows, and sends user equipment devices for the display of generation.Server application can be with Indicate that the control circuit system of Media guidance data source 618 sends the data that be stored on user equipment.Client application can It is shown with indicating that the control circuit system of recipient's user equipment generates guidance application.

The content and/or media guidance data for being delivered to user equipment devices 602,604 and 606 can be more top (OTT) Content.The user equipment (including above-mentioned any user equipment devices) that OTT content delivery also allows to enable internet is received through mutual The content (including above-mentioned any content, in addition to connecting received content through wired or satellite) of networking transmission.OTT content via by The internet that Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides, which connects, to be delivered, but third party distributes the content.ISP not responsible can be looked into It sees distributing again for ability, copyright or content, and the IP grouping provided by OTT content supplier can be only provided.OTT content mentions Example for quotient includes being grouped to provide YOUTUBE, NETFLIX and HULU of audio and video via IP.Youtube is Google The trade mark that company possesses, Netflix are the trade marks that Netflix company possesses, and Hulu is the trade mark that Hulu company possesses.In OTT Above-mentioned media guidance data can alternatively or additionally be provided by holding provider.Unless the context and/or media guidance data, The provider of OTT content can distribute media guidance application (for example, application or application based on cloud based on web), Huo Zheke To show content by the media guidance application being stored in user equipment devices.

Media guidance system 600 is intended to illustrate multiple schemes or network configuration, by they, user equipment devices and content It can communicate with one another with guidance data source in order to access content and provide media guidance.Embodiment as described herein can be at this Any one of a little schemes or sub- pooled applications, or using for delivering content and providing other schemes of media guidance System in apply.The generalization that following four scheme provides Fig. 6 exemplary illustrates.

In a kind of scheme, user equipment devices can communicate with one another in home network.User equipment devices can be through By above-mentioned short distance point-to-point communication plan, via by being provided on home network hub or other similar devices it is indirect Path is in direct communication with each other via communication network 614.Each of multiple individuals in single family people can operate Different user facilities on home network.Accordingly, it may be desirable to be transmitted between different user equipment devices various Media guidance information or setting.For example, the U.S. Patent Publication No.2005/ that such as Ellis on the 11st et al. was submitted July in 2005 In 0251827 in greater detail, user may expect to remain consistent on the different user facilities in home network Media guidance application setting.Different types of user equipment devices in home network can also communicate with one another, to send content. For example, user can send portable video player or portable music player from subscriber computer equipment for content.

In second scheme, user can have a plurality of types of user equipments, they are visited by these user equipments It asks content and obtains media guidance.For example, some users can have by the home network of household and mobile device access.With Family can control household equipment by the media guidance application realized on a remote device.For example, user can be via him Office personal computer or mobile device (such as PDA or enable web mobile phone) access website on online matchmaker Body guidance application.User can be controlled in online guide using the various settings of upper setting (for example, record, prompting or other settings) The household equipment of user processed.Online guide can directly control the equipment of user, or pass through the household equipment with user On media guidance application communication.For example, the United States Patent (USP) No.8 that Ellis et al. was awarded on October 25th, 2011,046, The various system and method for user equipment devices communication are discussed in 801, wherein user equipment devices are in away from each other Position, which is incorporated herein by reference on the whole.

In the third scheme, the media that them can be used in the user for inside and outside user equipment devices of being in refer to South application is directly communicated with content source 616, to access content.Specifically, at home, user's TV equipment 602 and user The accessible media guidance application of the user of computer equipment 604, to navigate and position between desired content.User may be used also To use the outside of being in of wireless subscriber communication equipment 606 to access media guidance application, to navigate between desired content and fixed Position.

In the 4th kind of scheme, user equipment devices can operate in cloud computing environment, to access cloud service.In cloud meter It calculates in environment, various types of calculating services of, storage shared for content or distribution are (for example, video sharing site or social activity Website) by being referred to as the calculating of the network-accessible of " cloud " and the set offer of storage resource.For example, cloud may include server Calculate equipment set, can be located at concentrate or distribution position, by communication network 614 to via network (such as mutually Networking) connection various types of users and equipment service based on cloud is provided.These cloud resources may include one or more Content source 616 and one or more Media guidance data sources 618.Furthermore or in alternative solution, remote computation website be can wrap Include other user equipment devices, such as user's TV equipment 602, subscriber computer equipment 604 and wireless subscriber communication equipment 606.For example, other user equipment devices can provide the access to the video copy or streamed video of storage.In this reality Apply in example, user equipment devices can be operated with Peer, without with central server communication.

In addition to other examples, for user equipment devices, cloud also provide to service (such as content storage, content it is shared or Social networking service) access, and the access to above-mentioned any content.By cloud computing service provider or it can be passed through The provider of its online service provides in cloud.For example, service based on cloud may include content storage service, the shared station of content The content of point, social networking site or user sources is watched via its distribution for other people in the equipment that is connected Other services.These services based on cloud can permit user equipment devices and store the content into cloud and from cloud reception content, Rather than in locally stored content and access the content being locally stored.

Various content capture equipment (such as video camera, the digital camera with video mode, audio note can be used in user Record device, mobile phone and Handheld computing device) Lai Jilu content.User can be directly (for example, equip from subscriber computer 604 or the wireless subscriber communication equipment 606 with session capture feature) by the content storage service on upload content to cloud.It can Alternatively, content can be transmitted to user equipment devices (such as subscriber computer equipment 604) first by user.Storage content User equipment devices use the data delivery service on communication network 614 by content uploading to cloud.In some embodiments, user Facilities itself are cloud resources, and other user equipment devices can be directly from user's dress of user's storage content on it Standby equipment accesses content.

Cloud resource can use such as application of web browser, media guidance, desktop application, movement by user equipment devices Using and/or any combination of its access application access.User equipment devices, which can be, relies on cloud computing progress application delivery Cloud client or user equipment devices can have certain functions without access cloud resource.For example, being set in user equipment Some applications of standby upper operation can be cloud application, that is, as the application that service is delivered through internet, and other application can be It stores and runs in user equipment devices.In some embodiments, user equipment can be simultaneously from multiple cloud resource reception contents. For example, user equipment can spread transfer audio from a cloud resource, while content is downloaded from second cloud resource.Or user sets It is standby to download content from multiple cloud resources, so as to more efficient downloading.In some embodiments, user equipment devices can make With cloud resource come processing operation, such as by the processing operation of the process circuit system execution described about Fig. 5.

As mentioned in this article, term " in response to ... " refer to due to ... and be initiated.For example, the first action response in Second movement and be performed may include the first movement and second movement between plug-in type step.As mentioned in this article, art Language " corresponding directly to ... " refer to as ... caused by.For example, be directly executed in the second movement can be with for the first action response It does not include the plug-in type step between the first movement and the second movement.

Fig. 7 is the explanation for the output based on user preference adjustment media asset according to some embodiments of the present disclosure Another flow chart of property step.For example, realizing that the media guidance application of processing 700 can be by control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5) It executes.It should be noted that processing 700 or its any step can in figures 5-6 shown in execute in any equipment or by it It provides.

Processing 700 starts from 702, and wherein media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) receives User's request of first media asset in first content source of the storage in multiple content sources during the time interval of scheduling. For example, media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) can via user input interface (for example, through By user input interface 510 (Fig. 5))) it receives specific football match " Michigan is stored from channel " ESPN " to 4-6 point in afternoon The user of the option of v.USC " selects.Mobile device or any other side for selecting the program to be stored can be used in user Method is from set-top box remotely in program listing screen in the series record option of all football matches for specific team The option of (for example, in grid guide (Fig. 3-4)) selection storage football match.

Processing 700 proceeds to 704, and wherein media guidance, which is applied, to store during the time interval of scheduling (for example, depositing In storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) user of the first media asset from first content source requests the item being stored as in data structure Mesh, wherein the entry includes indicating the first field of current.For example, media guidance application is (for example, via control circuit System 504 (Fig. 5)) it can safeguard that user has requested that when the media asset of storage and the media asset are scheduled for transmitting Scheduling interval database, which can be located locally in storage device (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)), Or it can remotely access via communication network (for example, via communication network 614 (Fig. 6)) (for example, in Media guidance data source In 618 (Fig. 6)).As a specific example, database can be arranged with table, and wherein each row is in individual cell (that is, field) Comprising being scheduled for the identifier of media asset of storage, time started, end time and media asset can be obtained from it Content source (that is, current).Media guidance application can pass through execution (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Data base query language script (such as SQL script) carrys out the read/write information.For example, if media guidance application determines the first matchmaker Body assets are rescheduled to different content sources, then media guidance application can update the field comprising current (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is different content sources, as described further below.

Processing 700 proceeds to 706, wherein media guidance application monitors (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) The data grouping received together with video from first content source.For example, media guidance application is (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5) of system) procedure script can be executed to check the data grouping received from first content source (for example, ESPN) with true Determine whether football match currently can obtain (for example, the football match is just broadcasted on ESPN) from first content source.Media guidance Data grouping can be monitored to drop continuously or during predetermined space using (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Low calculating cost.

In some embodiments, media guidance application monitors (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) are being dispatched Time interval except the data grouping that is received from first content source, as depicted in figure 1.Then, media guidance application Can determine whether runing time is longer than it to (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) scheduled media asset stored The time slot of scheduling and/or its scheduling time slot before start.During the first time interval except the time interval of scheduling, Media guidance application monitors (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) receive together with video from first content source Data grouping.For example, media guidance application can (it can be user Ke Ding in the setting time before the scheduled beginning of program (for example, 30 minutes before the scheduled beginning of media asset) of system) monitoring (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) The data grouping received together with video from first content source.As illustrated examples, if being scheduled in the first of scheduling The competitive sports terminated before media asset terminate earlier than expected, then media guidance application can store (for example, storing In device 508 (Fig. 5)) pre-games camera lens or information.

Alternately or additionally, media guidance application monitors (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) are in matchmaker The data grouping received together with video from first content source after the finishing scheduling time of body assets.For example, scheduled deposit The first media asset of storage itself runs more than the end time of scheduling.In this case, media guidance application can continue The data grouping that monitoring (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is received from first content source as described above, and after Renew storage media asset, until the data grouping that is received together with video from first content source no longer with the mark of media asset Symbol matching (for example, indicating that the media asset has terminated).Alternatively, or in addition, media guidance application can pass through institute as above It states and searches for multiple content sources to determine (for example, via control circuit system 504 at the end or after the time interval of scheduling (Fig. 5)) media asset is over and is not rescheduled to another content source.

Processing 700 proceeds to 708, and wherein media guidance, which is applied, extracts from the data grouping of monitoring (for example, via control Circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the first media asset indicator.For example, media guidance application " can declaratively be selected " by utilizing Order executes SQL script and extracts from the field in the table sent in data grouping together with the audio-visual data of media asset (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) media asset indicator.The identifier is unique for the first media asset , it is distinguished with other media assets so that media guidance be allowed to apply, and it can be the title of media asset, or Person is the integer hashed automatically based on the scheduling delivery time from content source.In some embodiments, media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) receives the table comprising information relevant to the video from first content source. For example, the table can be organized into the row comprising metadata relevant to the program currently received from first content source, first number According to the description of indicator (for example, unique alphanumeric code corresponding with program) and program of such as program, as Fig. 2 is further Description.Then, media guidance application can retrieve value corresponding with the first media asset indicator from the field in table.Example Such as, as described above, media guidance application can retrieve indicator, such as " FTBL1485 ".

Processing 700 proceeds to 710, the first media asset indicator and the first media that wherein media guidance application will extract The identifier of assets is compared (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)).For example, media guidance is using accessible (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) includes that the database of the identifier of media asset (is deposited for example, being locally stored in In reservoir (for example, storage device 508), or being remotely stored in can be via communication network (for example, communication network 614) access At Media guidance data source (for example, Media guidance data source 618)), and determine (for example, via character match) from media asset The media asset indicator extracted in stream whether the identifier match with storage the first media asset in the database.

In some embodiments, media guidance is applied with user's request together storage (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the first media asset identifier.For example, when media guidance application is (for example, via the (figure of control circuit system 504 5) when) receiving user's selection (for example, from user input interface 510 (Fig. 5)) of storage football match, media guidance application is deposited Storage can come from providing the identifier of the football match of the content source of the football match.Media guidance application can be by the first matchmaker The character of the identifier of body assets is compared (for example, via control electricity with the character of the first media asset indicator extracted Road system 504 (Fig. 5)).For example, media guidance application can be by each character of the indicator (such as " FTBL1485 ") of extraction (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is compared with the identifier of storage.Media guidance application can determine (example Such as, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) if number of thresholds or percentage character match, the indicator extracted with deposit The identifier match of storage.

Processing 700 proceeds to 712, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Whether the media asset indicator of extraction corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset.For example, media guidance application can execute (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) procedure script, the procedure script output extract indicator whether with storage The first media asset identifier match (for example, " FTBL1485 " be both the indicator of extraction and storage identifier). Whether media guidance application can be received (for example, via control electricity with the identifier match of storage based on the indicator of extraction Road system 504 (Fig. 5)) as performed procedure script output boolean results.

If media guidance application determines that the media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset, Processing 700 proceeds to 714, and wherein media guidance application memory (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is from storing Entry the first field in the first media asset for receiving of the first content source that indicates.For example, once it is determined that the mark extracted Know the identifier match of symbol with the storage for corresponding to the first media asset, media guidance application can store (for example, storing In device 508 (Fig. 5)) from such as in the first field of the entry of storage it is indicated initially dispatch content source (for example, ESPN the football match) received.Media guidance application can continue in entire scheduling time inter monitoring (for example, via Control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) data grouping that is received from first content source, whether no longer to determine the first media asset It sends from first content source and sends from a different content source (for example, processing 700 may return to step 706)。

If media guidance application determines that the media asset indicator extracted does not correspond to the identifier of the first media asset, Then processing 700 proceeds to 716, and wherein media guidance application searches (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) are multiple The data grouping received in content source is referred to finding including the second media asset corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset Show the second data grouping of symbol.For example, media guidance application can be based on mentioning from the media asset that ESPN is received from currently The indicator taken with football match identifier mismatch (for example, as described above based on compared with database) determine (for example, Via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) football match of 4 points of broadcasts in the afternoon is scheduled on ESPN currently without broadcast.It rings Other content sources of user's subscription should can be scanned (for example, via control circuit system 504 in the determination, media guidance application (Fig. 5)), to attempt by extracting indicator from data grouping as described above and by the mark of the indicator of extraction and media asset Know symbol and is compared to find the content source that wherein can get media asset.

Processing 700 proceeds to 718, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Whether the second data grouping received from the second content source in multiple content sources includes identifier with the first media asset Corresponding second media asset indicator.For example, media guidance application can be in the data grouping received from the second content source Middle extraction (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) media asset indicator (for example, " FTBL1485 ") and institute as above It states and determines whether it matches the identifier for the first media asset that (for example, via character match) is stored in data structure.

If media guidance application determines the second data grouping packet that the second content source from multiple content sources receives The second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset is included, then handles 700 and proceeds to 724, wherein media Guidance application updates the current in the first field of the entry of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage To indicate that the first media asset is being sent from the second content source.For example, once according to the data extracted from content source " ESPN2 " Be grouped determine football match broadcast just on ESPN2 rather than on ESPN, media guidance application can update (for example, through By control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) corresponding with the current being stored in the entry in data structure field, with anti- Football match is reflected to broadcast from different content source ESPN2.As a specific example, media guidance application can execute (for example, Via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) procedure script, to be updated and the entry associated first of storage for football match The value stored in field contents source field.

Then, processing 700 then continues to 726, and wherein media guidance applies (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) Store the first matchmaker received as the second content source of current indicated from the first field of the entry in storage Body assets.For example, media guidance application can updated in the first field based on storage entry in the database work as Preceding content source value, from ESPN2 rather than ESPN (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) stores football match.In some realities It applies in example, media guidance application can continue to monitor that (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is current just out of second The data grouping of the received media asset of Rong Yuan, to determine whether the first media asset has been scheduled back first content source or another A content source.For example, the reason of football match is rescheduled to ESPN2 may be because being scheduled in afternoon 4 on ESPN The competitive sports delay that point terminates.In this case, when storage (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) is in second When the first media asset (for example, football match from ESPN2) of Rong Yuan, media guidance application can continue monitoring (for example, Via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) whether football match still is being received from ESPN2.Ratio after ten minutes, on ESPN Match may terminate, and " Michigan v.USC " football match may dispatch back ESPN from ESPN2.Pass through the time in scheduling Interim continues to monitor the media asset indicator received together with the audio-visual data of media asset, and media guidance application can To detect the change of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) content source at any time and currently may be used from it The content source for obtaining media asset finds and stores media asset.

In some embodiments, media guidance application can store (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) from not With the media asset in multiple segments of content source.For example, football match can start on ESPN2, but five minutes it After be moved to ESPN because the program being delayed on ESPN is over.In this case, media guidance application can deposit First segment of the media asset of (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) from the second content source is stored up, as described above.Example Such as, media guidance application can store (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) when competing beginning from ESPN2, rather than The football match that the ESPN of primitive scheduling is received.Then, media guidance application can store (for example, in storage device 508 In (Fig. 5)) the second segment of the first media asset for being received from first content source.For example, media guidance application can be as above It is described (ESPN and to can store (for example, in storage device 508 for example, step 718) determines that football match is scheduled back In (Fig. 5)) the second segment of football match for being received from ESPN.Then, media guidance is applied the first segment and second Section splicing (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is into single storage file.For example, media guidance application combination The segment of two storages of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) football match, so that user is accessible entire The single storage file of match.Media guidance application additionally stores in the single storage file (for example, in storage device In 508 (Fig. 5)) instruction that is created by first content source and the second content source of the single storage file.For example, media guidance application Can store the instruction that the file that (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) is stored is made by multiple content sources, so as to The user reminding fact.

In some embodiments, when by two store fragment assembly together when, media guidance apply from first The first time stamp of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) first segment is extracted in the metadata of Duan Yiqi storage. For example, media guidance application can extract (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) first segment be from " 19:00: 00 " (HH:MM:SS) starts storage.Media guidance apply from the metadata stored together with the second segment extract (for example, Via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the second timestamp of the second segment.For example, media guidance application can extract (for example, Via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the second segment be since " 19:05:00 " (HH:MM:SS) store.Then, media Guidance application compares (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) stamp and second timestamp at the first time, which to be determined Earlier.For example, media guidance application can based on by two extract timestamp subtract each other and based on the result obtained from subtraction It is just or to bear that timestamp is earlier to determine (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)).In response to determining first Timestamp earlier, apply the second segment addition (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) to first by media guidance The end of section.For example, second that media guidance will be stored using (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) from ESPN The end for starting to be spliced to the first segment from the ESPN2 football match stored of section.

If the second data grouping that determining the second content source from multiple content sources of media guidance application receives is not Including the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset, then handles 700 and proceed to 720, wherein matchmaker Body guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) with the presence or absence of not yet searched any additional content Source.For example, media guidance application can execute the journey that (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) includes " for " circulation Sequence script, the content source which iteratively subscribes to from user receive the data grouping comprising media asset indicator, and when next It is terminated when being all examined from the data grouping comprising media asset indicator in all the elements source.Alternatively, or in addition, Media guidance application can be safeguarded therefrom extracts the content source list of data grouping (for example, at storage device 508 (Fig. 5) In), and determine whether that any content source that user subscribes to is examined not yet.

If media guidance application determines that, there is no not yet searched any additional content data, processing 700 proceeds to 722, wherein media guidance application returns to (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) unavailable first media asset and uses In record.For example, media guidance application can determine (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) football match not from The available any content source of user is sent.Alternatively, or in addition, once it is determined that not from the available any content source of user Football match is sent, media guidance application can send (for example, via communication network 614 (Fig. 6)) due to scheduling to user The variation of arrangement can not store the notice of football match.

If media guidance application determines there is not yet searched additional content data, processing 700 returns to 716, Middle media guidance application searches (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) connect in not yet searched multiple content sources The data grouping received is to find second including the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset Data grouping.For example, media guidance application can continue searching (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) as described above The data grouping received from different content sources, to find media asset instruction corresponding with the identifier of the football match stored Symbol.

It is expected that the step of Fig. 7 or description can be used together with any other embodiment of the disclosure.In addition, about The step of Fig. 7 is described and description can be completed with alternate orders or concurrently, to further realize the purpose of the disclosure.For example, Each step in these steps can execute in any order or parallel or substantially simultaneously, to reduce lag or improve system Or the speed of method.For example, multiple examples of processing 700 can be executed for multiple tuners in set-top box, these scheduling Each of device is scheduled as receiving different media assets for storing.It is further noted that being discussed about Fig. 5-6 Any equipment or equipment can be used for executing one or more steps in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is according to some embodiments of the present disclosure for searching for froming the perspective of for the data grouping received from multiple content sources The flow chart of bright property step.For example, realizing that the media guidance application of processing 800 can be held by control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5) Row.It should be noted that processing 800 or its any step can in figures 5-6 shown in execute in any equipment or mentioned by it For.Processing 800 is since 802, and wherein media guidance application starts for searching for the data received in multiple content sources point Group is to find the place of the second data grouping including the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset Reason.For example, media guidance application can initialize necessary variable and execute (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Ad hoc approach is called to execute the procedure script of processing 800.

Processing 800 proceeds to 804, wherein media guidance application access (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) The database of information comprising multiple content sources, wherein information include multiple content sources with each content in multiple content sources The instruction of the similar subset in source.For example, database that media guidance is locally stored in memory using accessible (for example, Storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) or be remotely stored in can via communication network (for example, communication network 614 (Fig. 6)) access matchmaker Database at body guidance data source (for example, Media guidance data source 618 (Fig. 6)).Number can be designed in a manner of self reference According to library, wherein the identifier of each content source and information discontinuous can be comprised in single table, and via pointer chain It is connected to appropriate field corresponding with the similar content source in table.

Processing 800 proceeds to 806, wherein media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) from The instruction that the second content source is similar to first content source is retrieved in field in the associated database in first content source.For example, Media guidance application can execute (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) data base query language script, such as SQL Script retrieves (for example, via sentence declaratively " is selected ") second content source from field associated with first content source Identifier.Identifier can be any combination of the alphanumeric for uniquely identifying content source or other characters.For example, mark Symbol, which can be frequency (for example, 54MHz), the catchword (call sign) (for example, WXYZ) of OTA channel or identifier, can be The title (for example, ESPN) of channel.

Processing 800 proceeds to 808, and wherein media guidance application (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) receives Second content source.For example, as described above, media guidance application can receive media asset information-data packet from the second content source (for example, as shown in Figure 2), to determine what media asset is the second content source be currently transmitted.

Processing 800 proceeds to 810, and wherein media guidance is applied extracts from the data grouping that the second content source receives (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) second media asset indicator.As above described in Fig. 1 and 6, matchmaker Body guidance application can extracted from the data grouping that the second content source receives (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the second media asset indicator, any media asset is currently sent from the second content source with determination.For example, media Guidance application can extract (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) indicator " Soccer123 ".

Processing 800 proceeds to 812, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Whether the second media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset.It is such as described in figs. 1 and 7 above , indicator (for example, " Soccer123 ") and user that media guidance application will extract request the first media asset of storage Identifier is compared (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)).For example, media guidance application can be by the finger of extraction Show that the character of symbol " Soccer123 " and the character of the identifier " Football678 " of storage are compared (for example, via control Circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)), and determine whether that the character of number of thresholds matches.

If the second media asset indicator extracted does not correspond to the identifier of the first media asset, processing 800 after Continue 814, wherein media guidance application return to (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) first media asset cannot be from Second content source obtains.For example, if media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) second matchmaker The character of number of thresholds mismatches between body assets indicator and the identifier of the first media asset, then media guidance application can be with Returning to media asset cannot obtain from the second content source.Media guidance application may return to step 804 and (for example, via Control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) determine whether that all the elements source is on inspection to determine the data received from these content sources Whether grouping indicates that the first media asset is currently sent.Media guidance application can execute procedure script to recycle (example Such as, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) by processing 800, it is associated with first content source each on inspection until Content source, or until the available all the elements source of user is all inspected.

If the second media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset, processing 800 continues To 816, wherein media guidance application return (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) first media asset can be from second Content source obtains.For example, if media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the second media money The character match of number of thresholds between indicator and the identifier of the first media asset is produced, then media guidance application can return to matchmaker Body assets cannot be obtained from the second content source.Then, media guidance application can terminate (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) it handles 800 and executes new processing to record the first media asset from the second content source.

It is expected that the step of Fig. 8 or description can be used together with any other embodiment of the disclosure.In addition, about The step of Fig. 8 is described and description can be completed with alternate orders or concurrently, to further realize the purpose of the disclosure.For example, Each step in these steps can execute in any order or parallel or substantially simultaneously, to reduce lag or improve system Or the speed of method.For example, multiple examples of processing 800 can be executed, so that multiple tuners in set-top box are respectively parallel Ground receives different content sources.This allows media guidance application concurrently to check multiple contents associated with first content source Source, to determine whether just to send the first media asset from these content sources.It is further noted that discussed about Fig. 5-6 Any equipment or equipment can be used for executing one or more steps in Fig. 8.

Whether it is the complete of media asset that Fig. 9 is according to the media asset for determining storage of some embodiments of the present disclosure The flow chart of the illustrative steps of full page sheet.For example, realizing that the media guidance application of processing 900 can be by control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5) are executed.It should be noted that processing 900 or its any step can in figures 5-6 shown in hold in any equipment Row is provided by it.Processing 900 is since 902, and wherein media guidance application starts the first media asset for determining storage Whether completely handle.For example, media guidance application can initialize necessary variable and execute (for example, via control circuit System 504 (Fig. 5)) ad hoc approach is called to execute the procedure script of processing 900.

Processing 900 proceeds to 904, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) The duration of first media asset of storage.For example, media guidance application can be retrieved (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) metadata of (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) is stored together with the first media asset of storage to look for It may be " 7100 seconds " to the value being stored in " program_length " variable.Alternatively, or in addition, media guidance At the beginning of it can retrieve when (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) first media asset is stored for the first time Stop the end time of the first media asset of storage with media guidance application and passes through two value subtraction calculations duration.

Processing 900 proceeds to 906, the duration for the first media asset that wherein media guidance application will store and scheduling Time interval be compared (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)).For example, media guidance application can be from scheduling Time interval length in subtract first media asset of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage and continue Time.As a specific example, if the duration of the first media asset of storage is the time interval of 7100 seconds and scheduling Length be 7200 seconds, then media guidance application can determine the of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage One media asset is 100 seconds shorter than the time interval of scheduling, this can indicate that a part of the first media asset is not stored.

Processing 900 proceeds to 908, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) The time interval whether duration of the media asset of storage shorter than dispatches.For example, as described above, if the first matchmaker of storage Body assets are short, then the length as the time interval from scheduling subtracts the knot of the duration of the first media asset of storage Fruit, media guidance application can calculate (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) positive value.On the contrary, if the value is negative, The first media asset then stored is longer than the time interval of scheduling, may indicate that the first media asset is completely correctly stored. In some embodiments, the actual duration of the first media asset can be applied by media guidance from first (and/or second) Content source receives (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)), can be used for making and more accurately compares and determine, such as It is upper described.

If media guidance application determines the time interval that do not dispatch shorter than the duration of the media asset of storage, locate Reason 900 proceeds to 910, and wherein media guidance application returns to the first of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage A media asset is complete.For example, if as discussed above the value of media guidance computation be it is negative, then media guidance application can be with Return to the complete simultaneously termination 900 of the first media asset of (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage.

If media guidance application determines that the duration of the media asset of storage is shorter than the time interval dispatched, handle 900 proceed to 912, wherein between the duration of media asset that media guidance application will store and the time interval of scheduling Difference is compared (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) with threshold value difference.For example, media guidance application can be examined Rope (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is stored in the value corresponding with threshold value difference in user profiles.Threshold difference It is different to be adjusted by user, so that the media asset in determining storage misses necessary inner capacities (for example, it is not complete) The media asset that the media asset of the determining storage of user before misses how many ratio is acceptable.As a specific example, media Guidance application can retrieve (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) threshold value difference " 60 seconds ".Then, media guidance is answered (example is compared with the difference (for example, 100 seconds) that can be determined by threshold value difference (for example, 60 seconds) and above in step 906 Such as, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)).

Processing 900 proceeds to 914, and wherein media guidance application determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) Whether the difference between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling of storage meets threshold value difference.For example, (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) threshold is subtracted in the difference that media guidance application can be determined from step 906 Value difference is different, to determine that the value is just or negative.If media guidance computation goes out negative value, media guidance application can be determined (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) is unsatisfactory for threshold value difference.If media guidance computation goes out positive value or zero Value, then media guidance application can determine that (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) meets threshold value difference.

If media guidance application determined between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling of storage Difference be unsatisfactory for threshold value difference, then handle and 900 proceed to 910, wherein media guidance application returns (for example, via control electricity Road system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage the first media asset it is complete.For example, if being unsatisfactory for by the value that media guidance computation goes out Threshold value difference as described above, then media guidance application can return to (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage The first media asset is complete and termination 900.

If media guidance application determined between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling of storage Difference meet threshold value difference, then handle and 900 proceed to 910, wherein media guidance application returns (for example, via control circuit System 504 (Fig. 5)) storage the first media asset it is imperfect.For example, if being met such as by the value that media guidance computation goes out The upper threshold value difference, then media guidance application can return to (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) storage First media asset is imperfect and can be with termination 900.

In some embodiments, between the duration of media asset and the time interval of scheduling in response to determining storage Difference meet threshold value difference, media guidance application additionally according to from media guidance data library (for example, from media guidance data Source 618 (Fig. 6)) the media asset list that retrieves determines (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) the first media money Whether produce can get in time in the future.For example, media guidance application can determine (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) may not yet store over threshold value (for example, five minutes) football match a part (for example, one hour), then from Media guidance data source retrieves list to determine whether media asset is available (for example, replay) in time in the future.Media refer to The character of the identifier of media asset can be compared with each list (for example, via control circuit system 504 by south application (Fig. 5)), to determine that media asset can get in time in the future.In response to determining that the first media asset can in time in the future Obtained from third content source, media guidance application memory from third content source store the first media asset second request (for example, Via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) (for example, in the data structure of such as table, as above discussed in Fig. 7).Example Such as, media guidance application can (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) determine that media asset can be from third content source It obtains, third content source can be first, second or different content sources, and dispatches and deposit from third content source (for example, ABC) Store up the request of media asset.By the replay of scheduled media assets, media guidance application be can determine (for example, via control electricity Road system 504 (Fig. 5)) original storage media asset whether complete (for example, it terminates earlier than the interval of its scheduling) or Person it whether miss a part of media asset.

In some embodiments, media guidance application is merely stored in a part of the media asset of time in the future scheduling. Media guidance apply from for storage media asset multiple frames in each frame store metadata in retrieve (for example, via Control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) associated with each frame in multiple frames time.For example, by media guidance application receive and Each frame of storage can by metadata with the time of frame is sent from content source (for example, format is HH:MM:SS:FF, wherein FF It is frame number) it is associated.Media guidance application can determine (for example, via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) first frame and second A part of the first media asset is missed between frame.For example, media guidance application can detecte with correlation time 19: After the frame of 05:00:01, next frame have correlation time 19:10:00:01, and media guidance application can determine (for example, Via control circuit system 504 (Fig. 5)) a part of (for example, five minutes of media asset) miss from the media asset of storage. Then, media guidance application can (for example, in storage device 508 (Fig. 5)) and the second request store only store first together The instruction of the first part of media asset.For example, no longer from the beginning storing entire matchmaker to create the full release of media asset Body assets (this may be that storage is intensive), media guidance application memory only stores the matchmaker that the first media asset of storage is missed The instruction of the frame (for example, first part) of body assets.

It is expected that the step of Fig. 9 or description can be used together with any other embodiment of the disclosure.In addition, about The step of Fig. 9 is described and description can be completed with alternate orders or concurrently, to further realize the purpose of the disclosure.For example, Each step in these steps can execute in any order or parallel or substantially simultaneously, to reduce lag or improve system Or the speed of method.For example, multiple examples of processing 900 can be executed, so that check the media asset of multiple storages parallel Integrality.It is further noted that can be used for executing one in Fig. 9 about Fig. 5-6 any equipment discussed or equipment Or multiple steps.

Provide above-described embodiment of the disclosure for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the disclosure is only by appended right It is required that limitation.Additionally, it should be noted that feature described in any one embodiment and limitation can be applied to appointing for this paper What other embodiments, and flow chart relevant to one embodiment or example can in an appropriate manner with any other implementation Example combination is completed in a different order, or parallel completion.In addition, system and method described herein can execute in real time.Also answer Considerable to be, above system and/or method can be applied to other system and or methods, or according to other systems and/or Method come using.

Claims

1. a kind of scheduled be rescheduled for determining from the media asset that a content source stores with from another content The method of source transmission, which comprises

Receive user's request of scheduled the first media asset transmitted from first content source of storage；

Determine media asset currently whether by from from the data grouping that first content source receives based on together with video The transmission of one content source；

In response to determining that media asset currently without being transmitted from first content source, searches for the data received from multiple content sources Grouping, to find the information that instruction media asset is currently being transmitted from the second content source；And

The second content source is accessed to store the first media asset.

2. a kind of scheduled be rescheduled for determining from the media asset that a content source stores with from another content The method of source transmission, which comprises

Receive first media asset in first content source of the storage in multiple content sources during the time interval of scheduling User's request；

User's request that the first media asset from first content source is stored during the time interval of scheduling is stored as counting According to the entry in structure, wherein the entry includes indicating the first field of current；

During the time interval of scheduling:

Monitor the data grouping received together with video from first content source；

The first media asset indicator is extracted from the data grouping of monitoring；

First media asset indicator of extraction is compared with the identifier of the first media asset；

In response to determining that the media asset indicator extracted does not correspond to the identifier of the first media asset, search for the multiple The data grouping received in content source includes that the second media asset corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset refers to find Show the second data grouping of symbol；

Include and the first media in response to determining from the second data grouping that the second content source of the multiple content source receives The corresponding second media asset indicator of the identifier of assets, current in the first field of the entry updated storage with Indicate that the first media asset is transmitted from the second content source；And

Store the first media asset from the current indicated in the first field of the entry stored.

3. method according to claim 2, further includes:

During the first time interval except the time interval of scheduling:

The first media asset indicator is extracted from the data grouping of monitoring；And

In response to determining that the first media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset, storage is from institute First media asset in the first content source indicated in the first field of the entry of storage.

4. method according to claim 2, wherein searching for the data grouping received in the multiple content source to find The second data grouping including the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset includes:

Access comprising for multiple content sources information database, wherein information include the multiple content source with it is described more The instruction of the similar subset of each content source in a content source；

The finger that the second content source is similar to first content source is retrieved from the field in database associated with first content source Show；And

Data grouping of the search from the second content source is to find the second media money corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset Produce indicator.

5. method according to claim 2, wherein extracting the first media asset indicator from the data grouping of monitoring and including:

Receive the table comprising information relevant to the video from first content source；And

Value corresponding with the first media asset indicator is retrieved from the field in table.

6. method according to claim 2, wherein by the mark of the first media asset indicator and the first media asset of extraction Know to accord with being compared and includes:

Store the identifier of the first media asset together with user's request；And

The character of the character of the identifier of first media asset and the first media asset indicator extracted is compared.

7. method according to claim 2, wherein the first media asset stored is the first media from the second content source First segment of assets, further includes:

Store the second segment of the first media asset received from first content source；

By the first segment and the second fragment assembly into single storage file；And

The finger that the single storage file is created by first content source and the second content source is stored in the single storage file Show.

8. the method for claim 7, wherein by the first segment and the second fragment assembly into the single storage file Include:

The first time stamp of the first segment is extracted from the metadata stored together with the first segment；

The second timestamp of the second segment is extracted from the metadata stored together with the second segment；

Compare first timestamp and second timestamp to determine which timestamp earlier；

In response to determining, the second segment earlier, is added to the end of the first segment by stamp at the first time.

9. method according to claim 2, further includes:

The duration of the first media asset of storage is compared with the time interval of scheduling；

In response to determining that the duration of the first media asset of storage is shorter than the time interval dispatched:

By between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling of storage difference and threshold value difference compare Compared with；And

The difference between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling in response to determining storage meets threshold value Difference determines that the first media asset of storage is imperfect.

10. method as claimed in claim 9, further includes:

The difference between the duration of media asset and the time interval of scheduling in response to determining storage meets threshold value difference:

According to from media guidance data library searching to media asset list determine the first media asset time in the future whether It can get；

In response to determining that the first media asset can be obtained in time in the future from third content source, storage is stored from third content source Second request of the first media asset.

11. method as claimed in claim 10, wherein storing the second request for storing the first media asset from third content source Include:

From for storage media asset multiple frames in each frame store metadata in retrieval with it is every in the multiple frame A frame associated time；

Determine a part that the first media asset is missed between first frame and the second frame；And

Due to the second request, storage only stores the instruction of the first part of the first media asset.

12. a kind of scheduled be rescheduled for determining from the media asset that a content source stores with from another content The system of source transmission, the system comprises:

Memory circuitry；

Control circuit system, is configured as:

During the time interval of scheduling:

13. system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control circuit system is also configured to

During the first time interval except the time interval of scheduling:

14. system as claimed in claim 12, wherein being configured to search for the data received in the multiple content source Grouping is to find the second data grouping including the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset The control circuit system is also configured to

15. system as claimed in claim 12, wherein being configured as extracting the first media asset from the data grouping of monitoring The control circuit system of indicator is also configured to

16. system as claimed in claim 12, wherein being configured as the first media asset indicator that will be extracted and the first matchmaker The control circuit system that the identifier of body assets is compared is also configured to

The character of the identifier of first media asset is compared with the character of the first media asset indicator extracted.

17. system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first media asset stored is the first matchmaker from the second content source First segment of body assets, and wherein the control circuit system is also configured to

18. system as claimed in claim 17, wherein being configured as the first segment and the second fragment assembly to described single The control circuit system in storage file is also configured to

Compare first timestamp and second timestamp, to determine which timestamp earlier；

19. system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control circuit system is also configured to

20. system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the control circuit system is also configured to

According to from media guidance data library searching to media asset list determine the first media asset whether in time in the future It can get；

In response to determining that the first media asset can get in time in the future from third content source, storage is stored from third content source Second request of the first media asset.

21. the system as described in claim in 20 stores the first media asset from third content source wherein being configured as storage Second request the control circuit system be also configured to

Since the second request storage only stores the instruction of the first part of the first media asset.

22. a kind of scheduled be rescheduled for determining from the media asset that a content source stores with from another content The system of source transmission, the system comprises:

For receiving the first media money in first content source of the storage in multiple content sources during the time interval of scheduling The device of user's request of production；

For the user for storing the first media asset from first content source during the time interval of scheduling to be requested storage For the destination device in data structure, wherein the entry includes indicating the first field of current；

During the time interval of scheduling:

For monitoring the device of the data grouping received together with video from first content source；

For extracting the device of the first media asset indicator from the data grouping of monitoring；And

Device for the first media asset indicator extracted to be compared with the identifier of the first media asset；

For searching for described in response to determining that the media asset indicator extracted does not correspond to the identifier of the first media asset The data grouping received in multiple content sources includes the second media money corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset to find Produce the device of the second data grouping of indicator；

For including and first in response to determining from the second data grouping that the second content source of the multiple content source receives The corresponding second media asset indicator of the identifier of media asset, the Current Content in the first field of the entry updated storage Source is to indicate device that the first media asset is being transmitted from the second content source；And

For storing the dress of the first media asset from the current indicated in the first field of the entry stored It sets.

23. the system as claimed in claim 22, further includes:

During the first time interval except the time interval of scheduling:

For in response to determining that the first media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset, storage to be come from The device of first media asset in the first content source indicated in the first field of the entry stored.

24. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein for searching for the data grouping received in the multiple content source It include the device of the second data grouping of the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset with searching Include:

It include the device for being directed to the database of information of multiple content sources for accessing, wherein information includes the multiple content source The subset similar with each content source in the multiple content source instruction；

For retrieving the second content source from the field in database associated with first content source similar to first content source Instruction device；And

For searching for the data grouping from the second content source to find the second matchmaker corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset The device of body assets indicator.

25. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein for extracting the instruction of the first media asset from the data grouping of monitoring The device of symbol includes:

For receiving the device of the table comprising information relevant to the video from first content source；And

For retrieving the device of value corresponding with the first media asset indicator from the field in table.

26. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first media asset indicator and the first media for that will extract provide The device that the identifier of production is compared includes:

For storing the device of the identifier of the first media asset together with user's request；And

For the character of the identifier of the first media asset to be compared with the character of the first media asset indicator extracted Device.

27. the system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first media asset stored is the first matchmaker from the second content source First segment of body assets, further includes:

For storing the device of the second segment of the first media asset received from first content source；

For by the first segment and the second fragment assembly to the device in single storage file；And

It is created for storing the single storage file in the single storage file by first content source and the second content source Instruction device.

28. system as claimed in claim 27, wherein for by the first segment and the second fragment assembly to the single storage Device in file includes:

The device that first time for extracting the first segment from the metadata stored together with the first segment stabs；

For extracting the device of the second timestamp of the second segment from the metadata stored together with the second segment；

For comparing first timestamp and second timestamp to determine the device of which timestamp earlier；

For stabbing the device that the second segment earlier and is added to the end of the first segment in response to determining first time.

29. the system as claimed in claim 22, further includes:

Device for the duration of the first media asset of storage to be compared with the time interval of scheduling；

Difference between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling and threshold value difference for that will store into The device that row compares；And

Meet for the difference between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling in response to determining storage Threshold value difference determines the incomplete device of the first media asset of storage.

30. system as claimed in claim 29, further includes:

For according to from media guidance data library searching to media asset list determine the first media asset whether in future Device obtained by time；

For storing from third content source in response to determining that the first media asset can get in time in the future from third content source Store the device of the second request of the first media asset.

31. system as claimed in claim 30, wherein storing the second of the first media asset for storing from third content source The device of request includes:

For from for storage media asset multiple frames in each frame store metadata in retrieval with the multiple frame in Each frame associated time device；

For determining the device for missing a part of the first media asset between first frame and the second frame；And

For only storing the device of the instruction of the first part of the first media asset due to the second request storage.

32. there is a kind of non-transient computer-readable media the determination that is used for being coded in thereon to be scheduled as from a content The media asset of source storage has been rescheduled the instruction to transmit from another content source, and described instruction includes:

For receiving the first media money in first content source of the storage in multiple content sources during the time interval of scheduling The instruction of user's request of production；

For the user for storing the first media asset from first content source during the time interval of scheduling to be requested storage For the instruction of the entry in data structure, wherein the entry includes indicating the first field of current；

During the time interval of scheduling:

For monitoring the instruction of the data grouping received together with video from first content source；

For extracting the instruction of the first media asset indicator from the data grouping of monitoring；And

Instruction for the first media asset indicator extracted to be compared with the identifier of the first media asset；

For searching for described in response to determining that the media asset indicator extracted does not correspond to the identifier of the first media asset The data grouping received in multiple content sources includes the second media money corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset to find Produce the instruction of the second data grouping of indicator；

For including and first in response to determining from the second data grouping that the second content source of the multiple content source receives The corresponding second media asset indicator of the identifier of media asset, the Current Content in the first field of the entry updated storage Source is to indicate instruction that the first media asset is being transmitted from the second content source；And

For storing the finger of the first media asset from the current indicated in the first field of the entry stored It enables.

33. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 32, described instruction further include:

During the first time interval except the time interval of scheduling:

For in response to determining that the first media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset, storage to be come from The instruction of first media asset in the first content source indicated in the first field of the entry stored.

34. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 32, wherein for searching in the multiple content source The data grouping received is to find including the second media asset indicator corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset The instruction of two data groupings includes:

It include the instruction for being directed to the database of information of multiple content sources for accessing, wherein information includes the multiple content source The subset similar with each content source in the multiple content source instruction；

For retrieving the second content source from the field in database associated with first content source similar to first content source Instruction instruction；And

For searching for the data grouping from the second content source to find the second matchmaker corresponding with the identifier of the first media asset The instruction of body assets indicator.

35. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 32, wherein for being extracted from the data grouping of monitoring The instruction of first media asset indicator includes:

For receiving the instruction of the table comprising information relevant to the video from first content source；And

For retrieving the instruction of value corresponding with the first media asset indicator from the field in table.

36. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first media asset for that will extract refers to Show that the instruction for according with and being compared with the identifier of the first media asset includes:

For storing the instruction of the identifier of the first media asset together with user's request；And

For the character of the identifier of the first media asset to be compared with the character of the first media asset indicator extracted Instruction.

37. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first media asset stored is from the First segment of the first media asset of two content sources, described instruction further include:

For storing the instruction of the second segment of the first media asset received from first content source；

For by the first segment and the second fragment assembly to the instruction in single storage file；And

It is created for storing the single storage file in the single storage file by first content source and the second content source Instruction instruction.

38. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 37, wherein for middle by the first segment and the second segment The instruction being spliced in the single storage file includes:

The instruction that first time for extracting the first segment from the metadata stored together with the first segment stabs；

For extracting the instruction of the second timestamp of the second segment from the metadata stored together with the second segment；

For comparing first timestamp and second timestamp to determine the instruction of which timestamp earlier；

For stabbing the instruction that the second segment earlier and is added to the end of the first segment in response to determining first time.

39. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 32, described instruction further include:

Instruction for the duration of the first media asset of storage to be compared with the time interval of scheduling；

Difference between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling and threshold value difference for that will store into The instruction that row compares；And

Meet for the difference between the duration of the first media asset and the time interval of scheduling in response to determining storage Threshold value difference determines the incomplete instruction of the first media asset of storage.

40. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 39, described instruction further include:

For according to from media guidance data library searching to media asset list determine the first media asset whether in future Time obtainable instruction；

For storing from third content source in response to determining that the first media asset can get in time in the future from third content source Store the instruction of the second request of the first media asset.

41. non-transient computer-readable media as claimed in claim 30, wherein for storing from third content source storage the One media asset second request instruction include:

For from for storage media asset multiple frames in each frame store metadata in retrieval with the multiple frame in Each frame associated time instruction；

For determining the instruction for missing a part of the first media asset between first frame and the second frame；And

For only storing the instruction of the instruction of the first part of the first media asset due to the second request storage.

42. a kind of scheduled be rescheduled for determining from the media asset that a content source stores with from another content The method of source transmission, which comprises

During the time interval of scheduling:

Include and the first media in response to determining from the second data grouping that the second content source of the multiple content source receives The corresponding second media asset indicator of the identifier of assets stores the first media asset received from the second content source.

43. method as claimed in claim 42, further includes:

During the first time interval except the time interval of scheduling:

In response to determining that the first media asset indicator extracted corresponds to the identifier of the first media asset, storage comes from first First media asset of content source.

44. the method as described in any one of claim 42-43, further includes:

45. the method as described in any one of claim 42-44, further includes:

46. the method as described in any one of claim 42-45, further includes:

47. the method as described in any one of claim 42-46, further includes:

48. method as claimed in claim 47, further includes:

49. the method as described in any one of claim 42-48, further includes:

50. method as claimed in claim 49, further includes:

51. method as claimed in claim 50, wherein storing the second request for storing the first media asset from third content source Include: